Pacific Madrone

The Pacific Madrone (Arbutus menziesii) was first documented by Archibald Menzies in 1792 when he arrived on Vancouver Island, thus the scientific name. The common name is from Spanish and is called Madrona in some areas.

The distinctive brown, smooth bark is characteristic of this tree. When it peels off this time of year (July), it makes a colorful, almost artistic display of brown/red and green as the new bark emerges. Madrone wood is extremely hard but tends to crack when dried out.

Several sources stated that the numbers of madrone trees are decreasing throughout their range. This is thought to be due to wildfire controls in the areas where it grows. The tree depends on intermittent fires to create a favorable growth environment.

This broadleaf, evergreen native tree is more common in southern Oregon and California than here in our area, but its range is from Vancouver island to southern California.

The largest known tree is in California and measures 316 inches in circumference; the largest known one in Oregon lives right here in Washington County (woot!) and is 283 inches.

For more information, see: http://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/entry/view/pacific_madrone/
and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arbutus_menziesii

Cooper Mountain Nature Park

Close up of the waxy evergreen leaves

Peeling bark on a branch.

Peeling Bark on main trunk

Small Madrone on Lower Table Rock in Southern Oregon. Note the darker colors.

Madrone blossoms - courtesy Wikipedia Commons.