Pacific Madrone is a tree, a long-term addition to the landscape. It's hardy across USDA zones 9 through 13 and shrugs off dry spells. Its mid spring flowers are a moderate draw for honeybees and native bees.
Zones
9-13
pH Range
4.5-7.4
Sun
Part Sun
Days to Maturity
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Score Pacific Madrone on your exact land.
Zone averages can't see the slope, soil, frost, and sun that decide whether pacific madrone actually takes — and those shift from one yard to the next. Enter your address and we'll score pacific madrone against your land's real conditions.
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See Pacific Madrone
What Pacific Madrone is
Pacific Madrone grows as a perennial and reaches around 50 feet at maturity. It blooms white in mid spring.
How to grow Pacific Madrone
Pacific Madrone grows in USDA zones 9 through 13. Pacific Madrone does best in part sun — at least 4 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 4.5 to 7.4. It needs about 200 hours of winter chill, which is why climate matters as much as soil.
USDA Zones
9-13
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
4.5 - 7.4
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Part Sun
plant_species_v5.csv
Drainage
Data pending
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost Tolerance
13°F
plant_species_v5.csv
Mature Height
50 ft
plant_species_v5.csv
Chill Hours
200+
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost-Free Days
0+
plant_species_v5.csv
Plant it right
Set pacific madrone in part sun with well-drained soil. Many fruit trees need a second variety nearby to pollinate — check before you plant just one.
Match the soil
Pacific Madrone prefers pH 4.5 to 7.4 (USDA PLANTS Database). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band.
Water steadily
Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. Match watering to the plant's drainage preference and your local rainfall.
Be patient, then harvest
Prune annually while the tree establishes; fruit trees reward patience with years of harvest. Local Extension guides publish per-cultivar bearing-age tables.
Good to know
Good news for pet owners — pacific madrone isn't known to be toxic to dogs or cats. (Source: ASPCA.)
Pacific Madrone offers moderate value to bees and other pollinators. (Source: Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership.)
Where Pacific Madrone thrives
Pacific Madrone is hardy across USDA zones 9 through 13. Zone is only the starting point, though: the soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific land decide how well it actually does.
Zones 9–13·Where Pacific Madrone growsOpen map →
Continental US shown — Alaska and US Pacific territories sit outside the federal map's polygon dataset.
On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, Pacific Madrone can grow in these states:
See if Pacific Madrone will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether pacific madrone actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Pacific Madrone in my zone?
Pacific Madrone grows in USDA hardiness zones 9 through 13 (USDA PHZM 2023). Zone is one factor — soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific parcel also shape whether it takes.
When should you plant Pacific Madrone?
Set pacific madrone out in early spring or fall while it's dormant, so the roots establish before the heat of summer. Your local last-frost date — which a Growable Ground report pulls for your exact address — sets the precise window.
How much sun does Pacific Madrone need?
Pacific Madrone does well in partial sun — around 4 hours of direct sun, and it takes some afternoon shade in stride. That flexibility makes it a good match for a bed the house or a nearby tree shades for part of the day. A Growable Ground report maps how the sun actually falls on your land, hour by hour, so you can set it where the light lines up.
What soil does Pacific Madrone need?
Pacific Madrone prefers soil pH 4.5 to 7.4 (USDA PLANTS Database). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Pacific Madrone attract pollinators?
Yes — pacific madrone's flowers are a solid nectar source for honeybees and native bees (Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership).
Is Pacific Madrone safe for pets?
Pacific Madrone is not known to be toxic to dogs or cats based on available data (ASPCA). Always supervise pets around new plantings.