Arbutus menziesii

Pacific madrone or arbutus is in the heath or Ericaceae family and is native to the western coastal areas of North America, from British Columbia to California. It is the only native broad-leaved evergreen in Canada.

• Leaves are alternate, simple, elliptical, up to 15 cm long and 8 cm wide and glossy dark green above, lighter below, finely serrated. In the wet coastal climate, leaves often discolour due to fungal infection.
• Small bell-like flowers 6 mm long cover the tree in spring in clusters, upright at the ends of shoots.
• Red berries develop by early winter, which as they dry up have hooked barbs to latch onto larger animals for migration. Many mammal and bird species feed off the berries.
• Bark is orange-red and naturally peels away in thin sheets, leaving a greenish appearance when fresh.