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Arbutus unedo (Strawberry Tree) – An evergreen tree to grows to 35 feet high with equal spread with a trunk and branches that shred their bark exposing the red-colored new bark. These branches hold elliptical leathery green leaves and white flowers that are followed by edible red fruits appear in the fall through the winter.
Plant in full to part sun. It is drought tolerant but will take regular watering. It is cold hardy to 0°F to 10°F. It is a versatile tree that can grow at the beach or in the desert and in any soil. It has edible fruit that looks a bit like a strawberry as the common name implies, but it is gritty and one is not likely to eat much of it.
Arbutus unedo is native to the Mediterranean Basin and Western Europe, including the British Isles. The species was first described by Carl Linnaeus in Volume One of his landmark 1753 work Species Plantarum with origin of the genus name coming from the name used by the Romans to describe the tree that came from the Greek word, 'arbuton'. The specific epithet is attributed to Pliny the Elder from a contraction of the Latin "unum tantum edo" meaning "I eat only one" which is thought to be a reference to the fruit's mealy and slightly astringent flavor, meaning that after tasting one, a person is unlikely to want another. This species is the national tree of Italy. Its green leaves, white flowers and red berries match the colors on the Italian flag. It was first introduced into California by Stephen Nolan at his Bellview Nursery in Oakland in 1871.
Arbutus unedo hybridizes naturally with another European species, the so called Grecian strawberry tree, Arbutus andrachne, where their ranges overlap. This hybrid has been named Arbutus × andrachnoides and it was awarded the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit in 1993. The very popular Arbutus 'Marina' introduced by the Saratoga Horticultural Research Foundation is now thought to be a selection of this hybrid.
The information displayed on this page about Arbutus unedo is based on our research conducted about this plant from books in our nursery library as well as from information that is provided by reliable online resources. We also have included our own observations made about it as it grew in the nursery gardens and other gardens visited, as well how the crops of this plant performed in the containers when we had them in our nursery field. We also include comments received from others and welcome hearing from anyone who has information about this plant, particularly if it includes cultural information aiding others to better grow it.
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