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Arbutus menziesii

Arbutus · Arbutus Tree · Laurelwood · Pacific Madrone

Family EricaceaeGenus Arbutus

A tall tree with smooth peeling orange-red bark and a leaning crown of dark evergreen leaves, above a calm sea
The whole plantWalter Siegmund (talk)CC BY-SA 3.0

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
treePlants of the World Online
Habit
Perennial, TreePLANTS Database
Height
30-65 ft9-20 mExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Spread
20-50 ft6-15 mExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Flower
Green, WhiteExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Blooms
SpringExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Native range
British Columbia, California, Mexico Northwest, Oregon, WashingtonGBIF Backbone Taxonomy
Hardiness zones
5-8Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Growing conditions

Sun
Full sunExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil
Clay, Loam (Silt)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Moisture
Good Drainage, MoistExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Watering
Drought tolerance: HighPLANTS Database

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; PLANTS Database — USDA NRCS; Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Worth knowing

This source reports three treatments. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around February 8, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Temperature: 40°F 4°C

Germination happens during step 1, in 56 days.

98% germination in 56 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Arbutus p. 21Public domain
Show the original text
Arbutus (Ericaceae). A. menziesii germ. 40(98% in 8th w). A prior 3 m in 70D or 70L and DS for 6 m or 1 y had little effect. Seeds germ. 70 GA-3(45% in 3-11 . w)-40(55% in 3-6 w), but this is of no advantage in view of the excellent germination at 40. Seeds DS 2 y germ. 40(78% in 11th w) indicating some minor deterioration.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Arbutus p. 21. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around January 19, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on January 18, 2025.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 730 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Temperature: 40°F 4°C

about 2 years from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2, in 77 days.

78% germination in 77 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Arbutus p. 21Public domain
Show the original text
Arbutus (Ericaceae). A. menziesii germ. 40(98% in 8th w). A prior 3 m in 70D or 70L and DS for 6 m or 1 y had little effect. Seeds germ. 70 GA-3(45% in 3-11 . w)-40(55% in 3-6 w), but this is of no advantage in view of the excellent germination at 40. Seeds DS 2 y germ. 40(78% in 11th w) indicating some minor deterioration.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Arbutus p. 21. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 3

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around November 24, 2026 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Gibberellic acid soak

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

    45 germinated in this phase.

  3. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

about 3 months from start to step 3. Germination happens during step 3, in 42 days.

55% germination in 21–42 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Arbutus p. 21Public domain
Show the original text
Arbutus (Ericaceae). A. menziesii germ. 40(98% in 8th w). A prior 3 m in 70D or 70L and DS for 6 m or 1 y had little effect. Seeds germ. 70 GA-3(45% in 3-11 . w)-40(55% in 3-6 w), but this is of no advantage in view of the excellent germination at 40. Seeds DS 2 y germ. 40(78% in 11th w) indicating some minor deterioration.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Arbutus p. 21. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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