Arbutus unedo is belonging to Ericaceae family. It is an evergreen Mediterranean tree, can reach 10 m high and 8 m wide though it is usually rather smaller. Naturally found in Ireland, Southern to Eastern Europe, Turkey, Syria and some parts of North Africa. Species name ‘unedo’ is attributed to Roman naturalist Pliny the Elder who said of the fruit ‘Unum Tantum Edo’ (Latin) meaning ‘I eat only one’.   This has been interpreted as either ‘it’s not that great’ or ‘it’s so great you only need one’. Longevity of tree is 50 to 150 years.

Strawberry Tree’s leaves are shiny dark green, ovate to 10 cm long with a serrate edge and red petiole. Its multiple trunks have a red-brown bark which exfoliates as it ages. The tree produces masses of beautiful, tiny white bell shape flowers in clusters of November and December; each flower contains male and female parts. Since the fruit takes 10-12 months to ripen, the tree carries both mature fruit and flowers at the same time. The fruits are green in the spring they begin to turn yellow and orange through summer then ripen to a bright red from October to December at which time they are edible. The fruit varies considerably in size, though it averages about 15 – 20 mm in diameter.

Arbutus unedo a very easily grown and trouble-free plant, it does best in a nutrient rich, well-drained moisture-retentive soil in sun or semi-shade. It also grows well in heavy clay soils and in dry soils. Once established, it is a very durable tree. It tolerates industrial pollution. Mature plants withstand -16°C without injury when grown in suitable conditions, though young plants would usually be killed at temperatures as low as this. Because they resent root disturbance, it is best to plant them out into their final positions as soon as possible. The trees are prone to getting black spots on their leaves by the end of winter. It doesn’t appear to be a fungal problem but is aggravated by the plant being less than content – usually either because it’s in a pot or its roots are dying back due to over wet conditions. There seems to be no treatment other than removing unsightly leaves by hand or be patient – the spring always brings nice fresh new leaves and the spotty ones fall.

Strawberry Tree easily propagated either by seed or by cuttings. There are various cultivars that offer options. Arbutus unedo ‘croomei’ is a very reliable fruiting form with red-tinged flowers that grows perhaps 4 metres tall and wide. Arbutus unedo ‘compacta’ is a smaller tree, though still growing over 2,5 m high and wide, which can be used if space is limited. Arbutus unedo ‘rubra’ is a slow growing form with lovely red-tinged flowers. It can eventually reach 4 metres or more tall and wide.

Strawberry Tree is used in Southern and Eastern Europe to make alcohol. Arbutus fruit is also used for making jams, pies, muffins and candy. Fruit, leaves and bark of the plant is used in traditional folk medicines as an antiseptic, astringent, and tonic due to its antifungal and antibacterial properties.

Use in Landscape: Strawberry Tree is an attractive small evergreen shade tree, with its shiny dark green colour and attractive bark and multi-trunk branching habit. The real show stoppers on this plant are the flowers and fruit, which are both abundant and, unusually, both present on the tree at the same time of year. Arbutus unedo is a superb plant to grow as a specimen in a lawn, and it also grows very well on the sunny edges of a woodland garden. It tolerates pruning when branches are young to help keep in bounds, and can make an attractive informal hedge.