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Join the Arbutus ARME!

Introduction

New Website!

Check out the new website for the Arbutus ARME!

The Initiative

The Arbutus ARME is an initiative to collaboratively advance knowledge that is important to conserving the Pacific Madrone. Please contact us or sign up for the newsletter if you’re interested in joining the initiative.

Where does the name come from?

Arbutus menziesii is the binomial name for Pacific Madrone. A.R.M.E., pronounced like Army, is the shorthand abbreviation Arbutus menziesii.

The ARME

Like any other army, we are a force. More specifically, we are more of a botanical and community-powered collective of people focused on facilitating efforts at Pacific madrone research, conservation, restoration and education.

We are an all-inclusive group, so feel free to call the tree by the variety of common names out there in the world. It can change based on your geographic location. Arbutus is the name often used north of the border in Canada. Madrone, madrona, madroño are all good too.

the full length of a mature madrone tree in bloom

closeup on a madrone leaf with dark brown lesions

Pacific Madrone

Icon of the Pacific Nortwest

Pacific madrone (arbutus, madrona, madroño) is a iconic and beautiful species of the Pacific Northwest.

The species has substantial value in the region’s cultural heritage. Pacific madrone has adapted several interesting traits that it uses to play a unique role in the ecology of PNW forests. Read more about this species on our Pacific Madrone webpage.

a mature madrone with full foliage. its bark has mostly peeled away and the red wood can be seen along the length of the tree.

ARME Project Origin

at the bottom of the frame is a field with small plants in rows. Midframe is a building with a broken roof and a white building with a red roof. behind them, Mount Rainier dominates. — WSU Puyallup Campus

A Co-Designed Initiative

This initiative has been designed in partnership between Seattle Parks and Recreation and our program, the WSU Ornamental Plant Pathology Program.

In April 2016, partners and stakeholders joined together for the Future of the Pacific Madrone Symposium at WSU Puyallup. Participants expressed concerns for the condition of Pacific madrone populations and brainstormed a ‘wish list’ for research and possible actions. In particular, participants noted the need for a survey and database dedicated to learning more about the health of madrone populations.

These discussions evolved into the creation of the Arbutus ARME and the inclusion of a Pacific madrone project in the TreeSnap smartphone application. More information about this tool is described below.

Project Goals

Long-Term Goals:

Advance knowledge about the range and condition of Pacific madrone populations.
Determine the causes and consequences of the leaf blight.
Identify populations most resistant to leaf blight and best suited for restoration.
Build a network of interested and engaged volunteers, supporters and stakeholders.

Short-Term Goals

Host symposia dedicated to Pacific madrone research and conservation,
Share information important to conservation and restoration of Pacific madrone,
Publish a guide dedicated to the care and cultivation of Pacific madrone.

Please contact us if you’re interested in contributing to help us achieve these goals!

How to Contribute

screenshot of a phone app on a page for pacific madrone. the picture at the top shows clusters of white blooms. — Screenshot of TreeSnap Smartphone Application

We need your help to advance knowledge about the health of Pacific Madrone!

Join us to assess the health and condition of madrone populations throughout the Pacific Northwest. Get involved by reporting healthy and diseased trees using the TreeSnap smartphone application.

google play badge — Download the mobile app using these links

TreeSnap is an easy to use mobile app to share observations about Pacific madrone. These observations will be collected in a database to locate the most healthy and least healthy populations. It will also allow us to test for patterns across the landscape and identify areas of concern or those most in need of restoration.

TreeSnap Instruction Videos

More Information and Resources

Additional resources for the Arbutus ARME are listed below. Please contact us if you have any trouble accessing the links or resources.

Arbutus ARME Annual Reports

2019 Annual Report (PDF)

Scientific Publication Reference List (Library)

Here is a list of resources about Pacific madrone (pdf) compiled by Seattle Parks and Recreation.

Previous Workshop Presentations

View our previous presentations given at workshops or other events.

Events

Previous Events

“The Future of Pacific Madrone” mini-conference was held April 19-20 2016 at WSU Puyallup.

Upcoming Events

No events are planned at this time. Check back soon or contact us about upcoming events to learn more about our Pacific Madrone research or the opportunities to meet others in the Arbutus ARME.

Stay in Touch

Join our mailing list to receive newsletter updates about the Arbutus ARME! The newsletter contains information about research, conservation efforts, news, art, and events.

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