Re: Arbutus menziessi - Pacific Madrone


In a message dated 12/6/04 6:14:09 AM, sazci@hotmail.com writes:

Although it is native to the Pacific Northwest, it's not easy to cultivate
there, and seems sensitive to several and some possibly unknown factors,
including pollution and soil compaction.  Several huge ones on the UW campus
are in really bad shape, succumbing to a fungus. 

Out here on the San Juan Islands, off the coast of Washington state, our native Arbutus menziesii is found mainly hanging off of cliff edges, oftentimes right next to waterways.  They demand (and I reiterate *demand*) impeccable drainage and an exposed site.  When attempts are made to  plant them as specimans in gardens here, the majority do not thrive because we  make our garden soil too rich, they are not given a sunny enough spot and they usually end up receiving supplemental summer irrigation that they just resent.  Yes, believe it or not, we have long, dry droughty summers out here! But some gardeners have persisted and the lucky survivors are usually found in starved parts of the garden, in a sunny, southerly or western exposure where the madrone's feet can stay dry and they can benefit from as much sun as possible year 'round.  They definitely take care of themselves once established.

I LOVE the cliff-hangers myself....they remind me of precarious dancers!

Christi
Lopez Island, WA, Zone 7-8
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