Arbutus menziesii (Madrone)

Exquisite, Arbutus menziesii (Madrone) is a spreading evergreen tree with an elegant, wide-branching habit and leathery, lustrous dark green leaves, 6 in. long (15 cm). In spring, a profusion of drooping clusters of urn-shaped, white flowers hang at the tip of the branches. Rich in nectar, they attract hummingbirds, bees, and other pollinators. They are followed by small, brilliant red-orange fruit that ripen in the fall and may persist into early winter. The mealy berries are prime food for the birds. Strikingly attractive is the satiny smooth, reddish-brown bark, which peels in thin flakes to reveal an attractive cinnamon-colored inner bark. Spectacular in all seasons, Madrone is one of the most beautiful broadleaf flowering evergreens.

• Grows up to 20-50 ft. tall and wide (6-15 m).
• Easily grown in average, acidic, moist, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Tolerates the widest variety of soils and climates, but appreciates good drainage. Drought-tolerant once established. Drought-Tolerant Trees: Top Picks for Low-Water Landscapes
• Great as a specimen plant, foundation plantings, and Mediterranean gardens.
• Virtually disease-free and pest-free. Watch for aphids or leaf spot.
• Attracts hummingbirds, butterflies, and birds.
• Propagate by seeds or softwood cuttings.
• Native from British Columbia to southern California.

Arbutus is a genus in the heath family Ericaceae, best known for A. unedo (strawberry tree), A. andrachne (Greek strawberry tree), A. menziesii (Pacific madrone), A. arizonica (Arizona madrone), A. xalapensis (Texas madrone), and A. canariensis (Canary strawberry tree).