Arbutus menziesii
| Arbutus menziesii | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |   |
| Hardiness: | 7 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-6.5 |
| Evergreen Self Pollinated | |
| Height: | 49' |
| Width: | 49' |
| Speed: | Moderate |
| Blooms: | Mid Spring-Late Spring |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Arbutus menziesii (common name: madrona)
Propagation: Seed - best surface sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe. Stored seed should be soaked for 5 - 6 days in warm water and then surface sown in a shady position in a greenhouse[1]. Do not allow the compost to become dry. 6 weeks cold stratification helps[2]. The seed usually germinates well in 2 - 3 months at 20°c[2]. Seedlings are prone to damp off[3], they are best transplanted to individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle and should be kept well ventilated. Grow them on in a greenhouse for their first winter and then plant out in late spring after the last expected frosts[K].
Basal cuttings in late winter[4].
Cuttings of mature wood of the current season's growth, November/December in a frame. Poor percentage[1].
Layering of young wood - can take 2 years[5][4].
Cultivation: Requires a lime-free nutrient-rich well-drained moisture-retentive soil in sun or semi-shade and shelter from cold drying winds, especially when young[4]. Succeeds in a limy soil according to another report[6].
Hardy to about -10°c[4], trees succeed outdoors at Kew but shoots of young plants are apt to be cut back in winter[7]. They grow very well in S.W. England[7].
An ideal plant for the small garden or as a lawn specimen, it has a neat, compact, upright growth habit, retaining its lower leafy branches close to the ground and casting little shade[8].
The flowers have a honey-like fragrance which will pervade the whole garden on calm days[8].
Trees are slow-growing in the wild, living up to 225 years[9], though they are fairly fast growing in cultivation when young[7]. They dislike being transplanted and should be placed in their final positions as soon as possible[7][2][10]. Give them some protection in their first winter outdoors.
This species is notably resistant to honey fungus.[4]
Range: Western N. America - British Columbia to California.
Habitat: Found in a wide range of soils and climates and also in many different habitats[9]. Grows in drier areas on high well-drained slopes usually in rich soils, occasionally on gravel[11][12].
Edibility: Fruit - raw or cooked[13][14][15][16][17]. A bland taste[9]. Very sour according to another report[18]. After boiling the fruit can be dried for later use[17]. The fruit is about 15mm in diameter[4].
Medicinal: The leaves are stomachic and vulnerary[19][20]. They can be used in the treatment of stomach ache and cramps, colds etc[20]. The leaves can be applied as a poultice to burns[20].
The bitter principles in the bark and leaves can be used as an astringent[9]. An infusion of the bark has been used in the treatment of diabetes and externally to treat sores, cuts and wounds[20]. It has also been used as a gargle for sore throats[20].
Usage: The inner bark was sometimes used by native North American Indians to make dresses[20].
The leaves can be used to test the temperature of pitch that is being used to waterproof canoes. When the leaves turn black the pitch is ready to use[20].
A brown dye is obtained from the bark[21][22], it does not need a mordant[19]. Use in spring or summer[19].
The bark is a rich source of tannin[23][24][12][18], it is used medicinally[19]. The tannin is also used as a preservative on wood, ropes etc[20].
Wood - very hard, brittle, durable in water, close grained, heavy, strong. The wood does not split when it dries and so has been used for carving[20]. It is also sometimes used for making furniture, it also produces a fine grade of charcoal[23][24][12][25][9].
Pollinators: Bees
Soil: Can grow in light and medium soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
In Leaf: Evergreen
Seed Ripens: Mid Fall
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Also Known As: A. procera.
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sheat, Wilfrid. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. St Martin, 1948.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Rice, Graham. Growing from Seed Volume 2. Thompson and Morgan, 1988.
- ↑ Phillips, Roger and Martyn Rix. Shrubs. Pan Books, 1989.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ Thomas, Graham. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray, 1992.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Bean, William. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Murray, 1981.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Genders, Roy. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale, 1994.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 Elias, Thomas. The Complete Trees of North America. Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1980.
- ↑ Taylor, Jane. The Milder Garden. Dent, 1990.
- ↑ Hitchcock, Leo. Vascular Plants of the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington Press, 1955.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Sargent, Charles. Manual of the Trees of North America. Dover, 1965.
- ↑ Hedrick, Ulysses. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications, 1972.
- ↑ Balls, Edward. Early Uses of Californian Plants. University of California Press, 1975.
- ↑ Tanaka, Tyōzaburō. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing, 1976.
- ↑ Yanovsky, Elias. Food Plants of the North American Indians Publication 237. US Department of Agriculture.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 Lauriault, Jean. Identification Guide to the Trees of Canada. Fitzhenry and Whiteside, 1989.
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 Grae, Ida. Nature's Colors. MacMillan Publishing, 1974.
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3 20.4 20.5 20.6 20.7 20.8 Moerman, Daniel. Native American Ethnobotany. Timber Press, 1998.
- ↑ Schery. Robert. Plants for Man. Prentice Hall, 1972.
- ↑ Coon, Nelson. The Dictionary of Useful Plants. Rodale Press, 1975.
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 Uphof, Johannes. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim, 1959.
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 Usher, George. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable, 1974.
- ↑ Turner, Nancy. Plants in British Columbian Indian Technology. British Columbia Provincial Museum, 1979.