STRAWBERRY TREE

(Arbutus unedo)

A plant of strawberry tree

Family: Ericaceae

Synonyms: Arbutus vulgaris, Unedo edulis.

Other names:  Arbutus, cane apple

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Strawberry tree is a very ornamental evergreen shrub or small tree.  It is believed to be a plant from the Mediterranean region and Western Europe north to western France and Ireland. Due to its presence in South West Ireland, it is also known as Irish strawberry tree, and Killarney strawberry tree. Despite its name, the strawberry tree does not produce strawberries.

            Strawberry tree blooms as well as fruits during autumn.   This makes it a very unusual specimen shrub, showing pretty red fruits and little pinkish flowers through its shiny greenery when most shrubs are going dormant. Older specimens are especially attractive with their shredding gray-brown bark and twisted, gnarled trunks.

            It grows in on the rocky and well drained soils in the western Mediterranean region.  It is a very popular ornamental in southern California.

Description

An evergreen broadleaf shrub or small tree,  upto 3  tall,  with a spreading, picturesque habit; bark gray brown that flakes and peels in thin plates to reveal the reddish young bark beneath.

            Leaves leathery, glossy on top, oblong or oval with toothed margins, 5 - 10 cm long.

            Flowers small white or pinkish, assembled in drooping panicles about 5 cm.

            Fruits spherical, bright red, warty.2-3 cm wide.  These are very showy.

            Flowering starts in autumn and continues into the winter.  The fruits take nearly a year to ripen.

Utilization:

The fruit is edible, though many people find it bland and mealy.  It has somewhat gritty skin, but the fruit itself has the texture of a lush tropical fruit and has a delicate pleasant flavour. For those people with sensitive taste buds, this is a fruit that can be enjoyed when eaten in moderate quantities.  The fruit is eaten both raw and cooked.  The fruits are fermented in Portugal to make a strong tasting wine which is called there medronho. The fruits are also used to make preserves.

            The fruit contains about 20% sugars and can be used to make delicious and nourishing jams and preserves. It ripens in November/December.  The fully ripe fruits fall from the tree when fully ripe it falls from the tree and so it is advisable to grow the plant in short grass in order to cushion the fall of the fruit.

Fruit - raw or cooked. Sweet but insipid

The leaves, bark and root are astringent and diuretic. They are also a renal antiseptic and so are of use in the treatment of affections of the urinary system such as cystitis and urethritis. Their astringent action makes them of use in the treatment of diarrhoea and dysentery. A gargle can be made for treating sore and irritated throats.  The leaves are gathered in the summer and dried for use later. The flowers are weakly diaphoretic.

Tannin is obtained from the leaves, bark and fruit. The bark contains 45% tannin. Wood is suitable for turning and making Greek flutes. The wood also makes a good charcoal.

            The bark of strawberry tree has been used in tanning leather.

Cultivation:

Strawberry tree is an excellent choice for a shrub border or woodland garden, or even as a small specimen tree.  As this tree blooms and fruits in autumn, so a strawberry tree makes an unusual specimen shrub, showing pretty red fruits and little pinkish flowers through its shiny greenery when most shrubs are going dormant. Older specimens are especially attractive with their shredding gray-brown bark and twisted, gnarled trunks.

            The plant prefers light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils, requires well-drained soil and can grow in heavy clay soil. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It requires dry or moist soil. The plant can tolerate maritime exposure. It can tolerate atmospheric pollution.

Cultivars:  There are few cultivars too.  The names and desciption of four of these are given below:

Compacta – A dwarf cultivar reported not to flower very freely.

Croomei - A dwarf-growing cultivar which is a reliable bearer.

Elfin King - The fruits are up to 25mm in diameter and have a sweet flavor. A slow-growing compact plant, often no more than 1 metre tall. It comes into bearing early, sets fruit freely and is ideal for container growing.

Rubra -  Grows to about 2 – 3 m in height, fruiting abundantly even when only

            Strawberry tree can be propagated by seed, cuttings and layering.  The layering, however, may take 12 to 18 months.