Arbutus menziesii Pursh

Shrubs or trees, 4-10(-20) m; bark dark red, smooth, until mid season when outer bark exfoliates, inner bark green, soon weathering to dark red; following exfoliation on younger wood, bark retained on oldest portions of main axis and on abaxial sides of larger lateral axes, area of retained bark gradually increasing as tree ages, becoming roughened dark gray. Leaves larger on sterile shoots with longer internodes; petiole 2-4.5 cm, base slightly decurrent, glabrous, sometimes with hairs adaxially; blade glaucous-green abaxially, olive-green adaxially (leaves of previous season turning yellow and red in June and July before they fall), elliptic, 6.5-13 × 3.5-6(-8) cm, base usually rounded, sometimes slightly cordate, rarely tapered, apex usually rounded or acute, rarely with short cusp, surfaces glabrescent (sparingly hairy on newly emerging leaves). Inflorescences (often compound), congested or not; axes hairy ± throughout, hairs not glandular. Pedicels accrescent, initially pendulous, becoming stiffly erect, 3-5(-6.2) mm, (to 6-8 mm in fruit), sometimes sparsely glandular-hairy; bract clasping base, rust-colored, scalelike, 2-3.5 mm. Flowers: calyx creamy tan at anthesis, lobes 1-2.1 mm, apex blunt; corolla 4.9-5.8 mm; anthers 1-1.2 mm, spurs usually slightly exceeding length of thecae; ovary with 2-5 ovules per locule. Berries red or orange-red, 13-20 mm diam. Seeds 2-2.5 mm.

Found in a wide range of soils and climates and also in many different habitats. Grows in drier areas on high well-drained slopes usually in rich soils, occasionally on gravel.

The fruit can be eaten in small quantities. They can be eaten raw or boiled or steamed. After boiling they can be dried and stored for later use. They then need to be soaked in warm water before eating. Caution: The fruit can be high in tannin.

Can be grown by cuttings or seedlings. Seeds needs soaking and stratification.