A member of the heath family, it belongs to the genus Arbutus, of which there are at least fourteen species of flowering shrubs and trees. Arbutus unedo is indigenous to southern Europe and Ireland.

Pacific madrone and strawberry tree are two similar evergreen trees. Our native madrone, Arbutus menziesii, grows to 120 feet and is distinct in the landscape because of its smooth red bark and glossy ...

Arbutus 'Marina' is related to our native madrone (A. menziesii) and to the strawberry tree (A. unedo), a fact that is evident when you see its evergreen leaves and clusters of flowers. 'Marina' is an ...

Winter birds need all they can help they can get, especially when it comes to food and shelter this time of the year. The tiny Anna’s hummingbirds that overwinter in local gardens especially need ...

The Pacific madrone (Arbutus menziesii) can be a magnificent tree. I saw a rare, huge specimen in a wooded area way up Mt. Veeder Road. Thinking it might be of Champion proportions, I measured its ...

There’s no missing them if you’re lucky enough to encounter them, though you may wonder what the heck they are. Those clusters of little red berries hanging from manzanita-esque trees are in fact ...

Take a drive around just about any neighborhood and you'll see trees that homeowners wish had never been planted. An 80-foot pine next to a dwelling poses a threat to life and property every time a ...