Pacific Madrone

Pacific Madrone—also called Madrona—is a prized Northwest evergreen with peeling cinnamon bark, urn-shaped white spring blossoms, and red–orange fall berries that feed birds and can be used in the kitchen [1][2][7].

Edible and Medicinal Uses

Madrone berries are edible but can be astringent—eaten fresh in small quantities, cooked, dried, or brewed into a cider-like beverage [4][5]. Flavor varies by site and season; many foragers harvest when berries are deep red in cool fall weather and process (cook/dry) to mellow tannins. Use fresh, or cook into compotes and leathers, or dry and grind into a spice-like powder for winter baking [4][7]. In regional traditions, madrone bark tea is used for colds and sore throats, and leaf preparations serve as astringent washes for minor ailments [4][5]

Our favorite is to make a compote, jar it, and then use it in any number of dishes over the Winter (see our recipe here).

Ornamental Qualities

The mosaic bark peels to reveal green and copper layers, contrasting with glossy evergreen leaves and clusters of white, bell-shaped flowers. Winter berry clusters add color and wildlife value, while the sculptural branching gives four-season interest in naturalistic gardens [2][7][10]. Consider pairing with other dry-summer, well-drained, mostly acid-loving natives. Salal and Evergreen Huckleberry provide complimentary evergreen understory. Tuck Red-Flowering Currant just beyond the dripline for an early-spring nectar source.   

Environment and Culture

Ranging from British Columbia to California (locally to Baja), mostly west of the Cascades, Pacific Madrone occupies rocky slopes, bluffs, and open woods from sea level to ~100–1500 m [2][8][9][11]. After fire it’s commonly top-killed but resprouts from a burl/lignotuber, a key survival trait in dry, fire-prone landscapes [3].

Indigenous communities across the region continue to harvest and tend madrone as living food and medicine: berries eaten fresh/dried or made into cider; bark tea for colds/sore throats; leaves chewed or used medicinally in household practice. Honoring these ongoing relationships respects knowledge that sustains both people and place [4][5].(Learn more & how to help on our Charitable Giving page.)

Harvest, Care, and Preparation

Planting: Transplant small stock only; madrone dislikes root disturbance. Choose full sun to light shade with excellent drainage (rocky/sloping sites ideal) [6][10].
Water: Water to establish, then minimal/no summer irrigation in native-range climates to reduce root diseases; keep soils on the dry side thereafter [6][10].
Maintenance: Avoid heavy mulch against the crown; prune lightly for clearance only.
Harvest: Pick ripe, deep-red berries in autumn; process promptly—cook, dry, or brew—for best flavor and storage [4][7].

(More details in our Planting Guide in the next tab)

Attributes

References

[1] USDA PLANTS Database. Arbutus menziesii (Pacific madrone). U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service.
[2] Flora of North America Editorial Committee. Arbutus menziesii Pursh. In: Flora of North America North of Mexico, Vol. 8 (Ericaceae).
[3] Fire Effects Information System (FEIS). Arbutus menziesii — Fire ecology and management. U.S. Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station.
[4] USDA NRCS Plant Guide. Arbutus menziesii (Pacific madrone) — Uses and ethnobotany.
[5] National Park Service. Pacific madrone — Ethnobotany notes (berries, bark tea, leaf uses).
[6] Oregon State University Extension. “Native madrones are special to the Northwest” — establishment and transplant guidance.
[7] Washington State University, Ornamental Plant Pathology. “About Pacific Madrone” — landscape notes, fruiting season, wildlife use.
[8] Jepson eFlora (University of California). Arbutus menziesii — distribution, habitats, elevation.
[9] Silvics of North America: Arbutus menziesii. U.S. Forest Service, Agriculture Handbook 654 — range and silvical characteristics.
[10] Washington Native Plant Society. Arbutus menziesii — cultivation and site needs.
[11] Calflora. Arbutus menziesii — California distribution and occurrence records.

Pot Sizing Guide