Pearly-white flowers open in early autumn while the previous year’s fruit ripens into bright red, ping-pong-ball-sized berries above peeling bark. The strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo) is grown for that winter show and for berries that turn into jam, syrup or liquor. Give it sun and soil that drains, and it asks for almost nothing else.
| Name | Arbutus unedo |
|---|---|
| Family | Ericaceae |
| Type | shrub |
| Height | 6 ½ to 16 feet (2 to 5 meters) |
| Exposure | full sun, part sun |
| Soil | ordinary, well drained |
| Foliage | evergreen |
| Flowering | early autumn |
| Harvest | autumn a year later |
Planting, care, and pruning are key to making sure your Strawberry tree will thrive and produce many flowers and edible berries!
Fall is the best season to plant your Arbutus unedo tree but you can still plant it without dire consequence until spring, as long as you are able to avoid frost spells.
When planting in spring, provide for adequate watering after the planting.
For hedges, space the trees at least 32 inches (80 cm) apart.
Caring for this tree is easy: since it’s used to growing in harsh environments, not much is needed. As years go by, you’ll have less and less to worry about!
Pruning of the Arbutus unedo tree is best done in spring.
Avoid pruning in fall, because you would be pruning off the magnificent berries that form and stay on the tree over winter.
This tree won’t need any watering at all, apart from the day it’s planted.
The only exception? When you grow it in a pot!
The most common disease for an arbutus tree is a type of fungus that covers leaves with black spots.
In the end, leaves fall off because they’re not able to help the tree photosynthesize anymore. However, this never kills the tree: new leaves grow back faster than sick ones fall off.
Nonetheless, it’s best to spray Bordeaux mix to keep the disease from appearing or spreading.
Almost everything about this shrub comes down to timing, because flowers, fruit and prunings all overlap on the same branches. Here is what each job asks for, and the season that suits it.
| Task | When | What to watch |
|---|---|---|
| Planting | Autumn, and up to spring | Avoid frost spells; water well if planted in spring |
| Pruning | Spring | Autumn cuts remove the berries that decorate the tree all winter |
| Flowering | Early autumn | Pearly-white blooms, discreet rather than showy |
| Harvest | Autumn, a year after flowering | Pick only soft, red fruit; earlier it tastes powdery and bland |
| Watering | Weekly in summer, potted plants only | Trees in the ground need none after planting day |
| Disease control | Preventive spraying | Bordeaux mix keeps leaf black spot from appearing or spreading |
Get the seasons right and the shrub largely looks after itself from then on.
Most garden centres sell the plain species, but a handful of named strawberry trees are worth seeking out for pink flowers, a tighter habit or fruit on a young plant. All share the same easy care and the same autumn flower-and-berry overlap.
| Variety | Flower colour | Habit | Best use |
|---|---|---|---|
| ‘Rubra’ | Pink | Medium, bushy | Specimen shrub, mixed border |
| ‘Elfin King’ | White | Dwarf, twiggy | Containers and terraces; fruits young |
| ‘Compacta’ | White | Dwarf, slow | Low hedge, large pots |
| ‘Atlantic’ | White | Compact, dense | Small gardens, evergreen hedge |
Harvesting and using the berries
It’s important to wait until the berries are soft and red: this is when they’re ready for harvest. Any earlier and they’ll taste powdery and bland, and not sweet at all.
Arbutus unedo berries are edible
However, don’t try to eat them raw. The taste, when uncooked, isn’t very good.
Actually, the “unedo” part of the scientific name is said to come from old Latin “unus” and “edo” which means “one edible”. Not that it is toxic: simply that since the taste isn’t very delicious when raw, eating one is more than enough!
A note on its other health benefits: bark shavings are a diuretic, helping to trigger micturition (peeing). Roots help fight against hypertension.
Arbutus unedo is a very beautiful shrub that bears cute edible fruits. That’s why it’s also called the strawberry tree.
This tree grows to over 15 feet (5 meters), and its lifespan ranges from 100 to 400 years. This is a slow grower, making it a great option for small gardens and containers.
Arbutus unedo is naturally present around the entire Mediterranean ocean, and it grows well along coastlines.
You may plant it as a standalone and also as part of a hedge to decorate your hedge in winter thanks to its ornamental berries. Flowers, though not very showy, are cute and pearly-white.
On top of hosting those bright red ping-pong ball-sized berries, the amazing bark of the tree will increase your garden’s winter appeal!
Easy to care for, Arbutus unedo adapts to all soil types, either in beds or in hedges, or in pots or garden boxes for a terrace.
Read more about shrubs:
No need to add any fertilizer, but it is a good idea to mulch the base of the tree to avoid weed growth in summer and protect roots when winters are cold.
