Madrone Tree

The Madronos (Arbutus) have smooth red branches and thin, scaly bark that continually peels off. The Pacific Coast variety (Arbutus Menziesii Pursh) grows from Vancouver Island, British Columbia, southward to the Coast Range in California from sea level to 3000 feet elevation. At one time, (as measured by Professor Jepson in 1910) near the Mattole River in Northern California, the largest madrone measured 75 feet in height, had a crown of 99 feet, and had a girth at 16 inches from the ground of 24 feet 1.25 inches. Sadly, this tree recently died.