Utilizing Madrone for Firewood in Oregon and the Pacific Coast

The Pacific Madrone tree is native to the Pacific Northwest. It flourishes in dry sites and does very well in rocky outcrops with full sun where the water drains quickly. The Madrone loves sunshine and is considered intolerant to shade. Shaded trees are often tall and spindly with leaves only on the portion of the tree that receives adequate sunlight.

Madrone trees are often found interspersed among Douglas firs and Ponderosa Pines. The Pacific Madrone is the most abundant hardwood is the Siskiyou mountain area (where I live) of Oregon. Common on the Pacific coast is found from San Diego all the way up to eastern Vancouver Island.

The copper colored peeling bark feels cool to the touch even in the summer. New leaves arrive in the summer and will stay for two years unlike most deciduous trees that drop their leaves each fall. In southern Oregon it's common for the Madrone fall to occur in July and August. It's not just the leaves that fall but the bark is also considered deciduous.

The small red berries of the Madrone contain an average of 20 seeds per berry. One pound of seed is equivalent to 197,000 to 320,000 individual seeds! The tree produces seed every year. They are disbursed by gravity from the tree and are favorite food of many birds and mammals. Unlike the mature Madrone, seedlings need partial shade to get established.

We've cut back many Madrones as part of our forest plan and for fire suppression. Suckers often quickly emerge from the stumps the following season if left unattended. Juvenile height growth of one to three feet per year is common. Older trees can reach heights of as much as 125 feet

The wood has little current commercial value. It cracks easily as it dries and becomes distorted. Its grain is beautifully colored and the wood does have application as a good-looking veneer. There are examples of fine handmade furniture and other products made by local crafters but management of stands for their economic value is virtually nonexistent.

In the Siskiyou range of southern Oregon the Madrone is prized for its value as firewood. It is an extremely dense hardwood, burns hot and burns for a long period of time. As with any firewood it is best to "season" the wood for at least a year for the best performance. Unseasoned (green wood) will put out less heat and tend to smolder because of its higher moisture content. It is best to cut a felled Madrone into manageable logs for the wood stove or fireplace as soon as possible. A downed Madrone that has been seasoned in the forest can be very difficult to cut even with newly sharpened blades on the chainsaw. It's common for the friction of the saw blades to cause "burn marks" on seasoned limbs.

Sources:

Oregon Wood Innovation Center, Pacific Madrone, Oregon State University

Philip McDonald & John Tappeiner, Pacific Madrone, USDA Forest Service