Madrona, Madrone, Pacific madrone
Arbutus menziesii
Family: Ericaceae
What it is like
An evergreen tree. It can grow to 20-30 m high. The trunk is 60-100 cm across. It has smooth reddish-brown bark. This peels off in papery flakes. The freshly exposed bark is green. The leaves are oval and 7-12 cm long. The leaves have smooth edges and are glossy green. They are whitish underneath. The male and female flowers are yellow and bell shaped and born on separate trees. The flowers occur in large clusters. They are white. They have a strong honey odour. The fruit are small and orange-red. They are 1 cm across. They have a grainy surface and many seeds.
There are 14 Arbutus species.
Where it is found
It is a temperate plant. It is native to North America. It needs acid soil.. It mostly grows in humid areas. It suits hardiness zones 7-9. It needs a dry summer. Tasmanian Arboretum.
Countries/locations it is found in
Australia, Canada, North America, Tasmania, USA (country/location of origin)
How it is used for food
The fruit can be eaten in small quantities. They can be eaten raw or boiled or steamed. After boiling they can be dried and stored for later use. They then need to be soaked in warm water before eating. Caution: The fruit can be high in tannin.
Edible parts
Fruit
How it is grown
It can live for 200 years.