conditions are right for Arbutus menziesii

It looks like Arbutus menziesii to me.

Spontaneous madrona seedling that appears to be crapping out.

Damn. Think it has any likelihood of making it or should I just pull it out and put in something more likely to survive?

If it is a madrona, it may be doomed anyway. Since it was previously getting some shade, and now is in full sun, it could sunburn along the trunk, and that would begin a slow decline, eventually killing it. And it can't be transplanted easily, either, since even young trees have extremely long tap roots. Madronas are declining in the PNW, so it would be really nice to have one more to add to the population. It's still young, so it might adapt to its new conditions. If you do decide to keep it, don't put a lush landscape around it. Madronas prefer poor, dry soil, and good air circulation around them. Some black spots on the leaves is probably nothing to be concerned about, as it is a family trait for ericaceous plants (rhododendrons, salal, kinnickinick) that they are susceptible to blackspot. Good air circulation around the plant helps keep blackspot at bay.

If it is a madrona, it may be doomed anyway. Since it was previously getting some shade, and now is in full sun, it could sunburn along the trunk, and that would begin a slow decline, eventually killing it. And it can't be transplanted easily, either, since even young trees have extremely long tap roots. Madronas are declining in the PNW, so it would be really nice to have one more to add to the population. It's still young, so it might adapt to its new conditions. If you do decide to keep it, don't put a lush landscape around it. Madronas prefer poor, dry soil, and good air circulation around them. Some black spots on the leaves is probably nothing to be concerned about, as it is a family trait for ericaceous plants (rhododendrons, salal, kinnickinick) that they are susceptible to blackspot. Good air circulation around the plant helps keep blackspot at bay.

Thanks bejoy. I have one in the back that the previous owners had trimmed into a rhody shape for decades. It's finally getting some height and looking like a real tree! Every spring it gets that fungal deal and looks terrible, but comes back and always is looking fabulous by the end of the year.

Everything going in will be drought-tolerant and I'm not planning on trucking in any topsoil for this portion of the garden. I'll just plant around it, mulch, and leave it at that. If it's not doing well by next autumn, I'll pull it out and put something different in. I'd like to give it the option to survive. The neighbors across the street cut down a GORGEOUS madrone last summer that I'd have liked to have seen stay there.

There is no question this is a madrona, and it looks very much to have burned up as a result of recent changes to the site.

Negative. That photo was taken the day that the junipers were removed and looks exactly the same a week later. I will observe and see how it does. Since it was so close to the fence I am assuming that the junipers did not fully shade it and there may be some possibility for survival.

Then something else sent it into a tailspin.

My immediate impression, before scrolling below the picture, was madrone. It took far longer (about 15 seconds) to fetch the word "madrone" out of memory than it did to dislike the arbutus ID.

Hi Larry, I'm not sure what that means? Are you saying that you believe that it is in fact a madrone but by my description it sounded like something else? Or that arbutus brings up hatred and anger when you hear it?

Hi Larry, I'm not sure what that means? Are you saying that you believe that it is in fact a madrone but by my description it sounded like something else? Or that arbutus brings up hatred and anger when you hear it?

3 new photos

I would give it a good soak, and then leave it alone. Mulch with bark. It might just be dry, due to competition from the junipers. I've grown a lot of madrones from seed, and have them growing in heavy soil in full sun at my place. I give them some water in late summer, but not more often than once a month. They aren't that hard to grow, but every year a couple of them will die, even though they all have the same conditions. It's the nature of the beast.

I would also give it some water like lilydude says. We haven't had rain since July 22nd and it's getting more sun than it's used to.
Trimmed, they can be a nice tree. The only thing I don't like about them is that they drop a load of leaves in June, but by keeping them small, the mess is minimized.
Mike

Disliking identification text accompanying a computer image on an anonymous forum is impersonal enough, in most cases.

Hi Larry,
I'm not upset or offended or anything, your statement just seemed a little vague and confusing and I was trying to understand what you were saying.