‘Chiri’ Arizona Madrone

‘Chiri’ Arizona Madrone

Our love affair with madrones is no secret and we are very excited to offer this unique selection, ‘Chiri’ Arizona Madrone , that Sean Hogan of Cistus Nursery brought back from the Chiricahuan Mountains.  It is similar to other madrone species with glossy blue green leaves and beautiful Ericaceous flowers and edible orange fruits. The young bark peels to reveal patchy creamy colors and the older bark is mostly gray with exposed reddish patches that madrones are known for. Very drought tolerant once established but will tolerate summer water so long as the soil is well draining. Makes an excellent street tree or focal point to the xeriscape garden. Much more garden tolerant than our native Arbutus menziesii and deserves to be more widely planted.

Find more Madrone Trees here!

Latin Name: Arbutus arizonica
Site and Soil: Arizona Madrone prefers 1/2 day to full sun and well-drained soil.
Pollination Requirements: Self-fertile
Hardiness: Hardy to at least 10F, possibly lower
Bearing Age: 3-4 years after planting
Size at Maturity: 20-50 ft. in height
Pests & Diseases: None seen thus far in our climate
USDA Zone: 8, possibly zone 7