Madrone

Madrone, commonly called Pacific madrone (Arbutus menziesii), is an evergreen tree in the heath family (Ericaceae) native to the western coastal regions of North America. Its range extends from British Columbia in Canada to central California in the United States, where it often grows on dry, rocky slopes, foothills, and in coastal canyons, frequently in mixed forests with conifers.

The tree is typically 15–30 meters tall, with a gnarled, multi-stemmed habit in older stands. Its bark is thin and smooth, peeling in thin curls to reveal new greenish or orange-brown underbark. Leaves are evergreen, simple, leathery, and oval, usually 4–12 cm long, dark green above and pale underneath. Flowers are urn-shaped, white to pale pink, produced in dense panicles. Fruits are small, round berries that ripen to red-orange and are edible, though tart.

Madrone favors well-drained soils and can tolerate drought but is highly dependent on suitable moisture and mycorrhizal fungi. It is relatively long-lived and often forms distinctive stands known as madrone woodlands or groves. The species is slow to establish from seed and has shallow, spreading roots that accommodate its exposed, rocky habitats.

Uses and nomenclature: the name madrone derives from the Spanish madrona or madrono, reflecting its coastal habitats. The wood is valued for its density and attractive grain and has been used for furniture and carving. Indigenous peoples historically harvested the berries for food and used other parts of the tree for various traditional purposes.

Threats include habitat loss, fire suppression altering disturbance regimes, drought, and disease or pests such as Phytophthora-related agents in some regions, contributing to regional declines in certain populations.