Pacific Madrone


Name Pacific Madrone (Arbutus menziesii)
Type Hardwood.
Other Names Also known as madrone, coast madrone, madrona, madrono, and arbuti tree.
Sources Grows along the Pacific coast of United States and Canada.
Appearance Straight to irregular grain with a fine texture. Light pink to pale reddish brown heartwood and cream colored sapwood with a pink tinge. Resembles pear in texture and apple in color.
Physical Props Heavy, hard, and strong with moderate stiffness and shock resistance. Tends to warp during drying but once dried, it is stable in service. Low decay resistance.
Working Props Works reasonably well in spite of its hardness. Turns well. Gluing can be challenging, especially if wood not completely seasonsed. Stains easily and polishes to a beautiful sheen.
Uses Used for bowls, novelties, turned articles, tool handles, inlay, core stock, paneling, flooring, and interior furniture. Madrone burls prized for decorative veneers and pipes.