Marina strawberry tree

Sun

Full sun; tolerates light shade, especially in hot inland gardens.

Water

Water deeply during establishment; drought-tolerant once established in mild climates. Avoid frequent shallow watering and constantly wet soil.

Soil

Well-drained sandy, loamy or gravelly soil, preferably slightly acidic to neutral. Heavy soil is suitable only where drainage is good.

Height

25-50 ft (7.6-15.2 m)

Spread

20-40 ft (6.1-12.2 m)

Flowers

Clusters of pale to rosy pink, bell-shaped flowers, mainly autumn through spring in mild climates; scattered flowers may appear at other times.

Foliage

Evergreen. Glossy, leathery, dark green leaves with finely toothed edges; older leaves shed throughout the year.

Growth

Moderate; usually faster with regular water while young.

Care needed

Medium

• Pollinators
• Deer resistant
• Drought tolerant
• Heat tolerant
• Wildlife
• Low allergen

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Hard

Toughness

Needs looking after

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   7 ft (2 m)

2. After 1 year

   8 ft (2.6 m)

3. After 2 years

   10 ft (3.2 m)

4. After 3 years

   12 ft (3.8 m)

5. After 5 years

   16 ft (4.9 m)

About 16 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Safe

Growth rate

Fast

• Plant while young in its permanent position; established trees resent root disturbance.
• Water deeply through dry spells during the first two or three growing seasons, allowing the surface soil to dry between waterings.
• Once established, water only during prolonged drought; keep lawn sprinklers away from the trunk.
• Apply 2-3 in (5-8 cm) of organic mulch over the root area, leaving the trunk base clear.
• Do not feed routinely; use a modest spring application of balanced fertiliser only if growth is weak and soil fertility is poor.
• Stake only if the root ball moves in wind, and remove supports once the tree is firmly rooted.

Pruning. Prune lightly in late spring, after the main frost risk, removing dead, crossing or poorly attached branches. Develop the trunk structure while young, avoid large cuts, and never top the tree.

Spring

Plant in colder parts of its range once severe frost has passed; water the root ball thoroughly.

Late spring

Remove frost-damaged growth once new shoots show which branches are alive, and make any light structural cuts.

Early summer

Renew mulch without burying the trunk base.

Summer

Check soil moisture around young trees and water deeply during dry weather.

Autumn

Plant in mild-winter areas with good drainage; collect fallen fruit near paths.

Winter

Check drainage after heavy rain and protect newly planted trees during unusually severe frost.

• Use as a specimen tree where its peeling bark can be seen from a window or garden path.
• Train a young tree with several trunks to create a sculptural focal point in a gravel garden.
• Combine with drought-tolerant shrubs and grasses in a Mediterranean-style border.
• Use its evergreen crown for screening or light shade, set back from paving, pools and seating areas because of fruit litter.

Garden styles it suits: Mediterranean, Modern Mediterranean, Architectural minimal, Dry gravel garden, Winter interest and Pacific Northwest woodland.

Plant it with: Rockrose, Lavender, Rosemary, California lilac, Deer grass and Manzanita.

Wildlife: Flowers provide nectar and pollen for bees when few other trees are flowering. Birds eat the ripe fruit, and the evergreen crown offers shelter.

• Root and crown rot in waterlogged soil: improve drainage before planting, keep the trunk base exposed and avoid frequent irrigation.
• Fungal leaf spots in damp conditions: collect fallen leaves, avoid overhead watering and improve airflow; minor spotting rarely needs treatment.
• Aphids on young shoots: wash off small colonies with water and encourage natural predators; use insecticidal soap if infestations persist.
• Frost injury to leaves and young branches: choose a sheltered site and protect young trees during cold snaps; wait until late spring before removing damaged wood.

Not known to be toxic to people, cats or dogs. The ripe fruit is edible, though eating large amounts may cause stomach upset. Horse-specific safety information is limited, so do not offer foliage or fruit as feed.

• Strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo)

  Usually smaller, with rougher, darker bark and predominantly white flowers; 'Marina' has more conspicuous smooth red peeling bark and pink flowers.

• Pacific madrone (Arbutus menziesii)

  Typically has larger leaves with mostly smooth margins, white spring flowers and smaller orange-red fruits; 'Marina' has finely toothed leaves and larger, rough-surfaced fruit.

• Greek strawberry tree (Arbutus andrachne)

  Also has smooth peeling reddish bark, but usually bears white spring flowers and leaves with mostly smooth edges rather than the pink flowers and toothed leaves of 'Marina'.

Arbutus is the Latin name for the strawberry tree, whose common name refers to its round, red, rough-surfaced fruits rather than any close relationship to strawberries.

Propagation. Usually propagated commercially from semi-ripe cuttings, though rooting can be difficult. Seedlings will not reliably retain the characteristics of 'Marina'; buy a vegetatively propagated plant to obtain the named cultivar.

Accepted botanical name

Arbutus

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.