If you travel to the western US, deep into Mexico, through the Mediterranean region or into the hills of Ireland, the tree that will impress you the most – season in and season out – is the madrone.
The interesting shapes of the branches are part of the character of the madrone.
Photo Credit: ©2007 Frank Tansey
The smooth bark of a madrone comes in an array of colors.
Photo Credit: David L. Morgan
This ancient madrone graces The Borda Garden in Cuernavaca, Mexico.
Photo Credit: David L. Morgan
The elegant trunk and unique bark make madrones easily recognizable in a native area.
Photo Credit: David L. Morgan
Seriously, look through any photo files or books for another tree (large or small) that can equal an Arbutus species in flowering habit, fall color, fruit display and winter charm all rolled into one. You can’t find one, because madrones are truly four-season’s worth of spectacular wherever they’re found, easily outdistancing their natural competitors.
Madrones are easily spotted in their native rocky hills by their brightly colored bark, which can be white, orange, apricot, tan or red, depending on the stage of exfoliation and regrowth. Or you might notice their panicles of white or pale pink flowers that appear in spring, giving rise to a multitude of bright-red berries that persist into late winter. In addition, madrone leaves are a deeper green than many other species. They’re deciduous or evergreen (depending on habitat), somewhat leathery and roughly 1½-3 inches long and ½-1 inch wide. In nature, you’ll find the plant as either a shrubby specimen about 2 feet tall or a huge tree reaching 90 feet, depending on the species.
I expect we’d see more madrones in American landscapes if it weren’t for their ill-begotten reputation of being difficult to grow. The trees aren’t blessed with fibrous root systems, so early seedling growth can be challenging for nursery growers. The good news, though, is the trees establish and grow easily once they’re transplanted in the landscape.
The following species are found worldwide. All are used as landscape plants – some in the US, others in countries where they’re native and introduced.
Arbutus andrachne
Sometimes called the Greek strawberry tree, this 10- to 20-foot-tall plant is hardy to Zone 8 and native to southeastern Europe and Asia Minor. It’s similar to strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo) in that it’s an evergreen shrub or small tree, but Arbutus andrachne has a smooth stem.
Much more common in the trade is a hybrid between Arbutus andrachne and Arbutus unedo called Arbutus x andrachnoides. It’s a large shrub to small tree, reaching 30 feet tall. Hardy to Zone 8, this progeny is said to have all the outstanding ornamental characteristics of its parents.
Arbutus arizonica
Arizona madrone grows to 50 feet tall and is hardy to Zone 6. It’s similar in appearance to the Texas madrone (Arbutus texana), with lovely bark, flowers and fruit. The tree has a limited distribution; it’s native to semiarid to arid regions, where annual rainfall ranges from 11-20 inches, and is found most commonly on north slopes at elevations of 4,000-8,000 feet. You can spot Arizona madrone in the foothills and lower mountains of southern Arizona and New Mexico, as well as northern Mexico.
Hardy to Zone 7, Pacific madrone is considered to be an evergreen, though it replaces its leaves about every 1¼ years. It has the greatest distribution of any of the American species, ranging from the San Francisco area into British Columbia. Known for its lovely bark, it’s also the largest of the madrones, reaching up to 90 feet tall.
Arbutus texana (also known as Arbutus xalapensis subsp. texana)
Texas madrone is said to be the smallest of the American species, generally reaching no more than 40 feet tall. Hardy to Zone 6, it’s a standout in the Texas Hill Country, causing double takes by visitors not expecting to see such a display of white flowers in spring, red fruit in fall and pinkish bark year-round. The tree can be found in the mountainous Trans-Pecos Province of Texas, areas of the Edwards Plateau and into eastern New Mexico. Some have placed this species into Mexico and as far south as Guatemala. I’ve seen it growing on rocky hills at Tepotzlán, near Cuernavaca, Mexico.
Known as the strawberry tree, this lovely madrone grows in size from a small shrub to a 30-foot tree and has long been grown in western Europe and the British Isles for its bark color and fruit. It’s fairly widely used as a street tree and in urban gardens, as it appears to be tolerant of pollution. Though not generally consumed, its fruit can reportedly be used to make jams and preserves. The plant’s range extends from southwest Ireland to the southern European Mediterranean and into Asia Minor. Occasionally, strawberry tree or one of its cultivars will be found introduced in the US. It’s hardy in most areas of Great Britain and withstands subfreezing temperatures. It’s probably hardy to our Zone 7, where I’ve seen it thriving.
Once they’re planted, madrones may take up to five years to fully establish, and they may require supplemental watering. After that, they pretty much grow on their own. So for patient gardeners who have the space in their yards, these are trees worth considering – they make lovely specimens with great year-round features.
