Arbutus sp.
Madrone, Madrone
(c) Daniel Cahen, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Daniel Cahen · licence
Family: Ericaceae · Type: Shrub · Variable; species dependent
Arbutus sp. (Madrone) is a non-native California shrub in the Ericaceae family.
How to tell it apart
vs Arctostaphylos: Arbutus fruits are bumpy and juicy; Arctostaphylos fruits are smooth and mealy.; vs Heteromeles: Arbutus has bumpy berries and urn-shaped flowers; Heteromeles has smooth pomes and flat flower clusters.; vs Comarostaphylis: Arbutus is a tree with multi-seeded berries; Comarostaphylis is a shrub with single-stoned drupes.; vs Quercus: Arbutus has urn-shaped flowers and berries; Quercus has catkins and acorns.; vs Umbellularia: Arbutus has bumpy red berries; Umbellularia has smooth purple drupes and aromatic leaves.
Frequently asked questions
Is Arbutus sp. native to California?
No. Arbutus sp. is not native to California (recorded as variable; species dependent).
What plant family does Arbutus sp. belong to?
Arbutus sp. is in the Ericaceae family, genus Arbutus.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-04-14
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.