Madrone Tree Care Tips: How to Grow a Madrone Tree

The madrone tree (Arbutus menziesii) is a broadleaf evergreen tree that belongs to the Ericaceae family. Madrone trees grow in the mixed hardwood forests of the Pacific Northwest, including northern California, Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia. Madrones grow alongside douglas fir trees, black oaks, conifers, and redwoods. Common names for the madrone include Pacific madrone, madrona, madroño, strawberry tree, and bearberry.

These native trees have red bark, red berries, and white flowers. Pollinators like woodpeckers and hummingbirds are attracted to the white flowers. Madrone trees thrive in rocky areas, bluffs, and USDA hardiness zones seven through nine. Generally, madrone trees are drought-tolerant, but they do not tolerate frost.

Transplanting a madrone tree into your garden can be challenging. As an alternative, you can grow a madrone tree by germinating seeds.

1. 1. Soak the madrone seeds. Place the sun-baked seed sprouts of ripe madrone fruit into a container of water for twenty-four hours.
2. 2. Refrigerate the seeds. Once the seeds are done soaking, keep them in a bag in the refrigerator for sixty days so the seeds will stratify.
3. 3. Scatter the stratified seeds. Sprinkle the seeds over a seed-starting mix, then cover them with about half an inch of soil. Place the seeds under grow lights for twelve hours daily.
4. 4. Transplant the seedlings. The seeds will germinate in about fourteen days, at which point you can transplant the seedlings into small pots. Fill the pots with a 1:1:1 ratio of sand, gravel, and peat.

Once your seedlings take root, madrone trees are relatively low-maintenance plants. Consider a few basic tips for caring for your madrone tree.

1. 1. Plant your madrone seedlings in full sun. As native plants of the Pacific Northwest, madrone trees do best in a cool, humid climate, but they also need direct sunlight to thrive. Older trees without access to adequate sunlight will begin to twist and grow at an angle.
2. 2. Water young madrone trees regularly. Your madrone tree will need regular watering as it establishes its root system. Once your tree matures, you’ll only need to water it infrequently during hot, dry months.
3. 3. Space your madrones appropriately. The madrone tree may tower as high as one hundred feet at maturity in the wild. In backyards, madrones typically grow up to fifty feet tall. Keep your madrone trees at least thirty feet away from other tall trees. Being too close to other trees will cause the shade to overshadow the sun and stunt the growth of your madrone tree.
4. 4. Maintain adequate soil drainage. Well-draining soil is essential to keeping madrone trees healthy.
5. 5. Avoid overwatering to prevent pathogens. Prone to root rot, the madrone tree requires minimal watering. Madrone trees are also susceptible to cankers. Keep the soil moist but never water-logged to prevent pathogens from killing your madrone tree. If your tree does become infected with a fungal disease, remove the infected branches right away with clean garden shears.

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