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| Category: Tree |
| Family: Ericaceae (Heaths, Heathers) |
| Origin: Europe, Southern (Europe) |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Flower Color: Pink |
| Bloomtime: Year-round |
| Synonyms: [Arbutus x andrachnoides 'Marina'] |
| Parentage: (Arbutus unedo x A. andrachne) |
| Height: 40-50 feet |
| Width: 25-40 feet |
| Exposure: Full Sun |
| Drought Tolerant: Yes |
| Deer Tolerant: Yes |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Low Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 15-20° F |
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Arbutus 'Marina' (Marina Strawberry Tree) - A medium-sized evergreen tree, growing to 25-50 + feet tall with a broad dense crown. The tree's growth causes the older bark to peel away from the trunk and branches revealing the beautiful shiny red new bark underneath. The pendulous clusters of urn-shaped white-blushed-pink flowers are produced year-round along the coast with peaks in spring and fall. The flowers are followed by red edible fruit. Considered to be drought tolerant, but looks best with occasional summer watering. Plant in full sun. Hardy to 15-20 degrees F with some tip damage on young plants with temperatures in the low 20's F. This tree is likely a selection of Arbutus x andrachnoides which is a hybrid between Arbutus unedo and Arbutus andrachne. It was introduced by the Saratoga Horticultural Foundation from cuttings taken from a tree in the San Francisco garden of Carla and Victor Reiter. The origin of this tree is a bit of a mystery. Mr. Reiter's tree, planted in his garden in 1944, had been acquired in 1933 when he was allowed to take vegetative cuttings from a boxed specimen at the Strybing Arboretum. The Strybing Arboretum, under director Eric Walther, had purchased the boxed tree from the closing-down sale of Western Nursery on Lombard Street in the Marina District. Charles Abrahams, the owner of Western Nursery, was thought to have taken cuttings from trees that were sent from Europe for a 1917 horticultural exposition, one of which was probably this beautiful tree. The tree in our nursery garden was planted in 1989 and was measured in October 2011 at 45 feet tall and 55 feet wide.
This description of this plant is based on our research and our observations of it growing at the nursery, in our own garden and in other gardens. We always appreciate receiving feedback of any kind from those who have any additional information about this plant, particularly if they disagree with what we have written or have additional cultural tips that would aid others growing Arbutus 'Marina' .
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