Deciduous trees sprout new leaves in the spring and then drop them in the fall. Coniferous trees are evergreen and hold their needles all year around. Those are standard tree rules.
But the Pacific Madrona (Arbutus menziesii) breaks those rules. They are evergreens, deciduous trees that stay in leaf year around. Actually, Madronas do drop their leaves, but not at the usual time. Like other deciduous trees, they sprout new leaves in the spring. Then in midsummer, the one year old leaves turn yellow and drop and that is happening right now. Rhododendrons are cousins of Madronas, and do this as well, but they will drop their two year old leaves in the summer. Although the Madrona looks like a tree, it really behaves more like a large evergreen shrub.
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AuthorCurious Bee. Forest Steward. Nature Nerd. Climate Activist Mom. Categories
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January 2021
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