Native Plants
Through a Modern Lens
Madroño is a licensed landscape design/build firm in San Francisco specializing in California native plants and modern materials.
Inspiring landscapes
with Bay Area identity
Put yourself back in the garden with an intelligently designed, well built, and thoughtfully maintained landscape. Whether you want a lively space for entertaining or a sanctuary for meditation, an orchard of natural discovery for your children or an oasis of green fields for your retirement, we bring ideal environments to life.
MODERN Landscape DESIGN
We bring a new vision to every project, seeking novel design answers to old garden problems. Our projects break free from cliché with vertical landscapes and roof gardens, stormwater capture and reuse programs, architectural fences and decks, low-voltage LED lighting, native habitat to attract butterflies and birds, high-density urban edibles, and other good ideas from our drafting table.
QUALITY CONSTRUCTION
Our projects are distinguished by fine materials, superior craftsmanship, and high levels of communication, combining to produce beautiful and sustainable landscapes with Bay Area identity. We weave native plants and quality resources through a modern lens to put color, texture, and aroma into the built landscape. Licensed landscape contractor, California C-27 lic. 980160.
GARDEN MAINTENANCE SERVICES
We approach the job of ongoing care with a designer’s eye, seeking to nurture the healthy development of both the individual plant and the quality and stature of the overall landscape. Residential, commercial, and industrial jobs all welcome. We’d love to develop a long-term relationship with your garden; let’s get acquainted.
Why Madroño?
Relationship-Oriented
To embark on any kind of home improvement project is to start a relationship. We give you our word, and stand by our work. Our best clients have been with us for decades.
Licensed & Insured
Madroño holds C-27 license 980160 and California contractor’s bond #30132295, maintains workers compensation at state-mandated levels, and carries automobile & general liability policies with million-dollar limits.
Highest Rated
We earn consistent 5-star reviews on Google, Yelp, Facebook Pages, and Angi.
Unconditional Guarantee
We take pride in our services, and offer an unconditional guarantee for the protection and assurance of our clients. Learn more about our warranties.
Native Plants
Wherever possible, we use locally appropriate California native plants; they are beautiful, attractive to beneficial wildlife, drought-tolerant, low maintenance, and – most importantly – they evoke deep identity of place.
Water Conservation
Our planting palettes of mostly natives consume far less water than lawns, rose gardens, and other “traditional” landscape elements. We also can help you store and redirect rainwater, a great environmental boon.
Recent News & Projects
We’re Hiring!
Jun 25, 2026
Madrono is hiring for immediate job openings in sales, design, construction, and project management
First Pilot Project Completed for S.F. Green Infrastructure Grant
Nov 5, 2024
We completed the first pilot project approved under a grant program by the SFPUC to fund green infrastructure for residential homeowners.
California Statewide Irrigation Ban on Non-Functional Turf
Oct 14, 2024
The state essentially has outlawed decorative lawns from government, public agency, commercial, industrial, HOA and other properties, phased between 2027-2029
#BUILTBYMadrono
This riotous patch of seep monkeyflower enjoys the high water table. #mimulusguttatus #builtbymadrono
Native wildflowers and a recirculating waterfall distinguish this front yard garden in SF’s Forest Hill...
Retaining wall and “green screen” of fast-growing vines including California native wild grape. #builtbymadrono
The kitchen garden both soothes the mind and feeds the body. #redlettuce #kitchengarden #builtbymadrono
The giant chalk dudleya cuts a handsome figure. #dudleyabrittonii #californianativeplants #builtbymadrono
Milled eucalyptus timbers 9x9x42 en route to becoming steps on grade. #local #sustainable #landscapematerials #builtbymadrono...
The blooming bush anemone is happy to see you too. #carpenteria #californianativeplants #builtbymadrono
Handsome Dr.Hurd manzanita en route to another satisfied customer. #arctostaphylos #manzanita #californianativeplants #builtbymadrono
Truck load of happiness en route to a satisfied client. #californianativeplants #builtbymadrono
CUSTOMER REVIEWS
Geoff and his crew were wonderful! They took the time to understand our needs up front and then worked tirelessly to make that vision happen. They were true partners in the entire process and a joy to work with.
We had the pleasure of working with Madroño to redesign our backyard garden space, and the experience was excellent from start to finish. Geoff and his team brought a wealth of experience and offered thoughtful, custom design suggestions that truly elevated our space. Geoff took the time to listen to our vision for how we wanted to use and enjoy the space, and he brought that vision to life while staying within our budget. The project progressed smoothly and was completed on time, which we really appreciated. One standout detail was Geoff’s suggestion to incorporate a beautiful trellis structure to support our mature wisteria plant. Personal touches like this made the final result feel even more special and tailored to our space. Throughout the process, Geoff’s communication was clear and consistent. His team was punctual, professional, and easy to work with, and they completed the work efficiently.
Geoffrey was exceptional to work with. He quickly understood our style and preferences, guided us with hands-on attention through every stage of the process, and designed a truly beautiful landscape for our small, challenging historic seaside lot. His work was outstanding, and his pricing was very reasonable. We cannot recommend him highly enough.
I'd like to recognized Madrono Landscape Design Studio as an outstanding company to work with. Russian Hill Homeowners Association hired them on several projects, and the experience was excellent from start to finish. Their professionalism, attention to detail, and strong technical expertise really stood out. They approached each project with care, precision, updates during the projects and their overall construction knowledge was evident throghout the process. The association was extremely pleased with how the projects turned out and the quality Madrono Landscape Design Studio delivered.
We had a great experience with Madrono. Geoff designed and his team installed plants for our front yard and trees for our sidewalk basin, taking into account San Francisco microclimates and our personal preferences. Knowledgeable, flexible with scope changes, and willing to take on our smaller project when many landscapers wouldn’t. Generally responsive and easy to work with—our yard looks great!
Madroño took a backyard that was fully paved over and turned it into a lifesaving refuge for us. They did the technical work installing irrigation and lighting, the creative work of designing the new space, and then worked with us on a plant list. We ended up with a perfect blend of plants that we wanted (vegetable garden area, purple Ceanothus, a few fruit trees, a California native meadow area) and new-to-us suggestions. They thought through details we wouldn't have considered, like having plants with different flowering times and flowers with different scents so there's always something happening in the garden. It takes a while to establish plants in a yard, and from concrete breakup to several years later Geoffrey and team were careful, considerate, and responsive. I'd highly recommend them for any landscaping, garden or yard project, from design to maintenance.
We had a series of retaining walls in our backyard repaired by Madrono landscaping. They did terrific job of replacing the sections that had failed and reinforcing other sections.
We were so pleased with Madroño’s 2022 design and installation of a waterfall, koi pond, landscaping, and lighting in our small down-sloping front yard that we had them come back to do a very big job in our large, ugly, neglected down-sloping back yard. They replaced multiple old crumbing retaining walls with engineered, permitted walls and installed beautiful perimeter fencing, paths, landscaping, and lighting. We are delighted with the result in terms of both the design and the execution. Madroño has its own crew of extremely hard-working employees with impressive integrity, honesty, and expertise. The quality of their work was outstanding and everyone was great to work with. We highly recommend Madroño Landscape Design Studio.
Geoffrey and his team did an awesome job with my back patio. I had some drainage problems during a major rainstorm where the small patio drain got clogged by leaves and flooded the patio leading to flooding the ground floor of the house. Geoffrey and his team came and recommended a comprehensive solution, including a complete redesign of the drainage system to feed from a large channel drain running the length of the house, a new gutter on a storage shed to feed water from the roof directly into the drain, and changing the slope of the pavers to prevent pooling. The project was completed on time and within the estimate range originally given, despite me being out of the country and 8 time zones away during most of the work. The finished work is very clean and high quality and the drainage problem was completely solved. I highly recommend Madrono if you have a problem and want it solved the right way the first time.
Geoff and his team at Madroño transformed our overgrown backyard, once dominated by invasive blackberries and vines, into a beautifully landscaped, terraced garden. The project included building a hardwood deck, stairs, and fences, as well as terracing the sloping garden into distinct areas connected by meandering paths. They also constructed retaining walls to create a flat, functional space. From the outset, Geoff’s meticulous attention to detail stood out. He ensured a surveyor marked the property lines, designed the landscaping to harmonize naturally with the slope, and carefully considered our concerns, including cost. We wanted a low-maintenance garden, and Geoff’s expertise in local flora proved invaluable. He recommended drought-tolerant native plants, including a local grass variety that thrives without watering. When unexpected issues arose—such as aligning the deck with the house—Geoff resolved them efficiently, even pouring cement to achieve a seamless result. Geoff also thoughtfully incorporated spaces for our children, designing areas for a sandbox and a playhouse. Throughout the project, he remained highly accessible and committed to delivering his best work. The transformation has dramatically enhanced our garden’s aesthetics, usability, and even the resale value of our home. Beyond his exceptional skills, Geoff is one of the kindest people we’ve had the pleasure of working with. His knowledge of Bay Area flora is remarkable—he once owned a nursery specializing in native plants and has even published on the subject. Madroño is truly one of a kind. You simply cannot go wrong with them!
Madrono installed a rainwater harvesting system and did a great job. The crew was super friendly, the work was quality and the system works great. They were very knowledgeable about the process and had some great ideas on how to maximize the output of our system. Thanks!
An excellent experience. Geoff's patience with clients who don't garden (and therefore could not tell him exactly what we wanted) was amazing. The team was responsive to questions and feedback, offered ideas and solutions, and clearly took pride and ownership of what they were creating. Throughout the experience--design through substantial demolition through the creation of a beautiful, livable, relaxing space--it was clear that everyone from the top down cared about making our back yard the best it could be. 10/10 would hire again.
For a long time, I wanted to have a professionally landscaped backyard garden to serve as a special retreat for me. I finally decided on Madrono Landscape Design, and the owner, Geoffrey Coffey was very helpful in laying out a landscape that reflected the type of garden I had envisioned, sort of a "controlled jungle". I didn't cut corners finance wise, but I am very happy with the results. Geoff suggested various flowers and shrubs, plus incorporating what plants I did have already into the new design, including a drip irrigation system. Now I just have to wait for the shrubs and vines to grow to maturity to get the garden that I've always wanted.
We hired Madrono Landscape Design to implement the redesign of the Miraloma Park Improvement Club native plant garden. Geoff met with us multiple times at the project site to go over the detailed goals that we required including staying within our limited budget. Geoff offered many suggestions and was always responsive by phone and email. He prepared a detailed contract, general site, drainage, elevation and planting plans for the project. The lead foreman Daniel and crew were very professional. The extremely hard soil conditions made the project much more challenging to (1) grade the soil, (2) install a lot of drainage pipes, (3) install a crushed gravel path and circle, (4) created a walking path, (5) installing new plants and (6) removing a huge amount of old pavers installed in the 1940s and repurposing them to redirect rainwater runoff from our adjacent parking lot into the garden. The crew also removed a huge amount of dead vegetation and trimmed many trees which allowed a lot more light. Geoff later helped us to identify which of the existing and new plants would be best for educational signage. We are very happy with the results.
When we needed to replace leaky roof decks, Madroño delivered. We're thoroughly delighted with the end result. Geoffrey and his team, including Daniel and Tomas, were exceptional to work with. Beyond fixing the structural problems, we wanted to enhance our outdoor space. We had a few ideas before we started, but Geoff’s very practical recommendations and design additions really elevated the end result from usable space to “show stopper.” Geoff was respectful of our budget. He provided an array of cost-conscious options, helped us understand tradeoffs, and was a supportive thought partner throughout the design process. The renovation has significantly increased our usable space, and it's now a favorite spot for our family and friends to hang out. Thanks to Madroño for a fantastic experience and outstanding results!
I recently engaged Geoff and Madroño Landscape Design Studio for a maintenance project at my home in San Francisco, and I could not be happier with the outcome. Geoff is responsive and helpful, and his colleagues were friendly and thorough, and I will certainly work with Geoff and his team again in future.
It was a big complicated project involving a neighbor, a large retaining wall, and structural engineering. The end result was beyond my expectations. There were hiccups along the way, but none were the fault of Madrono. Geoffrey is a good communicator and his crew were excellent. Not only is an old and failing retaining wall replaced, but I have a beautiful California native garden and more usable space in my yard.
Make A Connection
We’d love to strike up a relationship with you and your garden. Let’s get acquainted.
About Us
The strength of creative vision to imagine your ideal garden is only the first step in our partnership. Next, we commit to the concept and build it with the most durable, highest quality materials. Gratified clients engage Madroño for ongoing maintenance, making it a long-term relationship.
Our Services
Landscape Design
Landscape Installation
Garden Maintenance
Fences & Decks
Hardscaping & Stonework
Fire & Water Features
Green Walls
Rooftop Gardens
Landscape Lighting
Street Tree Relationships





