Strawberry tree

Sun

Full sun to partial shade; flowering and fruiting are usually best in sun. Shelter from cold, drying winds near its cold limit.

Water

Water regularly while establishing; once established, water during prolonged drought rather than keeping the soil constantly moist.

Soil

Well-drained soil, from sandy to loamy, including moderately alkaline soils. Avoid waterlogged ground and heavily compacted clay.

Height

15-25 ft (4.5-7.6 m), occasionally taller with age

Spread

10-20 ft (3-6 m)

Flowers

Autumn into early winter; clusters of small, white, sometimes pink-flushed, urn-shaped flowers.

Foliage

Evergreen. Leathery, glossy dark green leaves with toothed edges; reddish young stems and peeling bark become more noticeable as the plant matures.

Growth

Slow to moderate

Care needed

Low

• Plant a young, container-grown specimen without disturbing its roots more than necessary; established plants resent moving.
• Water deeply during dry spells through the first two growing seasons.
• Apply 2-3 in (5-8 cm) of organic mulch, keeping it clear of the trunk.
• Feed only if growth is weak and the soil is poor; avoid routine high-nitrogen feeding.
• Collect fallen fruit beside paths and patios before it becomes slippery.

Pruning. Prune lightly in spring after the risk of severe frost, removing dead, damaged or crossing branches. To develop a small tree, gradually remove selected lower branches over several years rather than stripping the trunk at once.

Spring

Plant in colder districts once the soil is workable and severe frost has passed.

Spring

Remove winter-damaged growth and make any light shaping cuts.

Late spring

Refresh mulch and check that it does not touch the trunk.

Summer

Water young plants deeply during dry weather; check container plants more often.

Autumn

Enjoy the flowers and harvest fully red, soft fruit if wanted; remove unwanted seedlings.

Winter

Check drainage and protect young plants from severe frost and drying winds near the colder edge of their range.

• Use as a multi-stemmed specimen in a sunny courtyard, allowing room for its broad crown.
• Combine with rock roses, lavender and rosemary in a well-drained Mediterranean-style border.
• Plant as an informal evergreen screen where flowers, fruit and bark can be seen at close range.
• Use in a sheltered coastal garden for year-round structure and tolerance of salt-laden air.
• Place near, rather than directly over, a terrace so fallen fruit does not create a slippery surface.

Garden styles it suits: Mediterranean, Coastal, Wildlife garden, Low-maintenance, Modern courtyard and Winter interest.

Plant it with: Lavender, Rosemary, Rock rose, Mediterranean spurge, Portuguese lavender and Phillyrea.

Wildlife: Flowers provide late-season nectar and pollen for bees when weather permits. Birds eat the ripe fruit, and the dense evergreen crown provides shelter.

• Root rot and decline in wet soil: improve drainage before planting and avoid frequent watering once established.
• Leaf spot: remove badly affected fallen leaves, improve airflow and avoid wetting the foliage unnecessarily.
• Scale insects and associated sooty mould: inspect stems and leaf undersides; treat accessible infestations with horticultural oil according to the label.
• Frost scorch or branch dieback: choose a sheltered position and wait until spring growth begins before removing damaged wood.

Not known to be toxic to people, cats, dogs or horses. Fully ripe fruit is edible, though often bland and gritty; eating large amounts may cause digestive upset. Fallen or fermenting fruit should not be left where pets or livestock can gorge on it.

Where it spreads. Can escape gardens through bird-dispersed seed in southern Australia and is regarded as an environmental weed in parts of Victoria and South Australia. Avoid planting beside susceptible bushland and remove volunteer seedlings.

• Pacific madrone (Arbutus menziesii)

  Usually becomes a much larger tree, with broad, mostly untoothed leaves, conspicuous smooth orange-red bark and smaller orange-red fruit.

• Greek strawberry tree (Arbutus andrachne)

  Has smoother, more striking cinnamon-red bark, generally untoothed mature leaves and mainly spring flowers rather than autumn flowers.

• Hybrid strawberry tree (Arbutus × andrachnoides)

  Combines the peeling red bark of Greek strawberry tree with leaves that are often lightly toothed; it can be difficult to distinguish without checking several features.

The common name refers to the strawberry-like surface of the fruit, while the Latin epithet unedo is traditionally interpreted as 'I eat one', suggesting that one fruit is enough.

Propagation. Grow from seed taken from ripe fruit; germination can be slow and a period of cold, moist treatment may help. Semi-ripe cuttings taken in late summer are possible but can be difficult to root. Seedlings may vary from the parent.

Accepted botanical name

Arbutus unedo

In the US and Canada

Introduced in the lower 48 states.

Native range

Albania, Algeria, Baleares, Bulgaria, Corse, Cyprus, East Aegean Is., France, Greece, Italy, Kriti and Lebanon-Syria.

Measured

Soil pH 5 to 5.5. Average height 900 cm.

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