Know How:
Encyclopaedia of trees- Choosing shrubs and trees
- Knowing what scratches: woody plantscommon to macchia vegetation
- Strawberry Tree (Arbutus unedo)
Strawberry Tree (Arbutus unedo)
The Strawberry Tree is an evergreen shrub with decorative, edible fruits and attractive flower panicles. Flowers and fruits appear at the same time.
Leaves
Evergreen, lanceolate or elliptic leaves, glossy dark green above. Entire or finely serrated margin. Size: 4 to 11 cm long.
Flowers
Flowering period: X to III. White, flowers resembling lily of the valley, 7 to 9 mm long, in 5 cm long pendent panicles.
Fruits
Strawberry-like red fruits approx. 2 cm in diameter. Edible, but very granular and bland or sour. The fruit only ripens after one year.
Bark
The bark is rough and scaly, grey or grey-brown. Young bark is red-brown and gives off fibres. Young shoots are hairy.
Photos
Application
Garrigue, macchia vegetation, open country, afforestation, bird protection, public areas, urban areas, pedestrian precincts, container plants, private gardens, front gardens
Native regions
Mediterranean regions, Turkey, Caucasus
Location parameters
Light: full sun to off-sun; soil: very dry to fresh; soil structure: normal to loose; soil depth: shallow to deep; compaction: to be avoided; humus concentration: medium; pH value: acid to low; nutrient concentration: low to high.
Demands
Urban climate: resistant; does not tolerate stagnant moisture and compaction.
Growth
Height of growth: 5 to 10 m. Spread: 4 to 9 m. Evergreen, slow-growing large shrub or small tree. Usually round or spherical. Grows to approx. 1.5 - 3m high in containers.
Leaves
Evergreen, lanceolate or elliptic leaves, glossy dark green above. Entire or finely serrated margin. Size: 4 to 11 cm long.
Flowers
Flowering period: X to III. White, flowers resembling lily of the valley, 7 to 9 mm long, in 5 cm long pendent panicles.
Fruits
Strawberry-like red fruits approx. 2 cm in diameter. Edible, but very granular and bland or sour. The fruit only ripens after one year.
Bark
The bark is rough and scaly, grey or grey-brown. Young bark is red-brown and gives off fibres. Young shoots are hairy.