Pacific Madrone

Arbutus menziesii

Madrone (Arbutus menziesii) is one of the most unusual native trees of the Pacific coast. Found from British Columbia all the way south to central California, this tree is identified by its smooth, thin bark which peels back in strips to reveal a cinnamon, orange, and red hue underneath. Madrone trees maintain a full set of glossy evergreen leaves year round, while in the spring clusters of small white bell-shaped flowers bloom. These give way to red-orange berries in fall that provide food for birds and other wildlife.

Traditionally the bark has been used as an astringent for a wide range of uses [1][2]. Native American made decoctions to use as a wash on skin irritations, poison oak, or sores. It was also taken internally as a treatment for colds, sore throats, and various urinary ailments [3][4][5]. Madrone bark has also been used as a natural disinfectant and mild preservative due to its high tannin content. The shrubby manzanita (Arctostaphylos spp.) is a close relative with many of the same uses but that grows as a shrub rather than a tree. Manzanita berries could be ground into a fine meal or made into a sweet drink — an important supplement to the diet during dry seasons [3].

Madrone is often mistaken for the Mediterranean strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo), which is in the same genus but bears different fruit. The strawberry tree has round red fruits that are edible, but bland. In Europe they are used to make jam, or fermented to make brandy.

The madrone is one of the West Coast's most beautiful trees, with a unique peeling bark that ranges from orange to red to cinnamon. Its glossy evergreen leaves and fragrant white flowers add to its appeal. Madrone also plays an important role in the ecosystem, providing food and shelter for birds and small mammals.

[1] United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. “Pacific Madrone – Arbutus menziesii — Ethnobotany and Traditional Uses.” https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/arbutus-menziesii/

[2] Foraged & Found Edibles. “Madrone Bark – Arbutus menziesii.” https://www.foragedandfoundedibles.com/medicinal

[3] Plants For A Future. “Arbutus menziesii (Madrone).” https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Arbutus+menziesii

[4] Washington Native Plant Society. “Arbutus menziesii – Ethnobotany.” https://www.wnps.org/native-plant-directory/40-arbutus-menziesii

[5] Bush, Leonard B., and H. N. Wood. “Contemporary use of bark for medicine by two Salishan native elders of southern Vancouver Island.” Journal of Ethnopharmacology 29, no. 2-3 (1990): 133-147. https://doi.org/10.1016/0378-8741(90)90098-E