Madrone Firewood — BTU Rating, Burn Quality & Tips

Arbutus menziesii

BTU per Cord

30,000,000

Density

4,320 lbs/cord

Category

hardwood

Split Difficulty

hard

Spark Rating

low

Smoke Rating

low

Coaling Quality

excellent

Seasoning Time

18 months

Availability

regional

One of the best firewoods on the West Coast. Extremely dense, burns very hot with long-lasting coals and minimal smoke. Difficult to split, especially when dry. Requires long seasoning. The bark peels easily. Highly sought after in the Pacific Northwest and California.

Pros

  • +High heat output
  • +excellent coaling for long burns
  • +Low spark risk — safe for open fireplaces
  • +Low smoke production

Cons

  • -Difficult to split
  • -Long seasoning time (18 months)

Best Uses for Madrone

Open Fireplace

Excellent — low spark risk

Wood Stove

Excellent — high heat output

Campfire

Good — mix with softwood kindling for easy starts

Smoking/Cooking

Can be used but not a traditional smoking wood

Seasoning Madrone

Madrone requires approximately 18 months of seasoning to reach the ideal moisture content of 20% or below. Split wood to 3-6 inch pieces and stack with good airflow. Keep the top covered but leave sides open to air. Store off the ground on pallets or rails.

Compare With Similar Species

Mesquite

28,000,000 BTU/cord · excellent coaling

Black Locust

27,900,000 BTU/cord · excellent coaling

Shagbark Hickory

27,700,000 BTU/cord · excellent coaling

Osage Orange

32,900,000 BTU/cord · excellent coaling

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Last updated: December 2024