Arbutus unedo f. RUBRA strawberry tree
Arbutus
The strawberry tree is a Mediterranean woody plant that you may easily miss passing by local rocks and plains, because there it is just as naturalized, ubiquitous, and often oddly shaped as, for example, the common elder is in Central European countryside. Somewhat surprisingly, the genus Arbutus belongs to the heath family (Ericaceae) and includes several species of evergreen shrubs and small trees distributed throughout the Mediterranean region along its entire perimeter, European, African, and Near Eastern, as well as in adjacent parts of western Europe. It belongs among ancient woody plants that were already growing here around 20 million years ago, at a time when the local climate and the character of Mediterranean vegetation were only beginning to take on their present form. Under the typically harsh conditions of the maquis, strawberry trees survived cooling periods, recurring droughts, fires, and other repeated disturbances of the landscape. It is therefore no surprise that this combination of evergreen elegance, long-term drought tolerance, and the ability to regenerate after stress has rapidly brought the strawberry tree to the forefront of growers’ interest at the beginning of the new millennium. It is a prime candidate for the changing climate of today’s Central Europe, where rainfall and soil moisture are declining.
The common strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo) is the most widespread representative of the genus and is abundant in Mediterranean landscapes. It naturally forms the lower and middle layers of woodland. It was first scientifically described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753 in his work Species Plantarum. The species name unedo originates from the Latin phrase unum edo: “I eat only one” traditionally attributed to Pliny the Elder (23–79 AD, Roman Italy). This refers to fruits, which are edible and sometimes quite sweet, but rather bland in flavour. This brief remark, whether meant seriously or with irony, reminds us that the strawberry tree was observed and named long before the emergence of modern botany. For centuries it remained a symbol of southern regions, where its adaptability to summer drought and its striking appearance made it popular in gardens and urban greenery, while more northerly areas were long considered beyond its reach. That has now changed.
Rubra is a common name for all forms of strawberry tree with red flowers. Only those plants which also boast other distinct features were selected and registered as individual varieties. It makes evergreen, narrowly oval to obovate, 6-10 cm long, leathery leaves with serrated margins, more conspicuous closer to the tip. They are medium to dark green and glossy. The twigs are orange, reddish when young, and as the bark ages it becomes shredding and changes to a pastel mahogany color, peeling off in small flakes.
The flowers are urn-shaped, raspberry pink to rosy red, and composed in pendent racemes. They make a splendid show opening in autumn when almost nothing else blooms. Depending on weather and climate type, flowers may continue blooming until late spring, and sporadically throughout summer, too. Meanwhile mature small, spherical, and edible fruit which is bright red when mature hence the name strawberry tree. It contains as much as 20% of sugars but the taste is rather dull, so it is mostly used in preserves and liquors.
Strawberry tree grows moderately into an upright and slightly spreading shrub with a domed canopy. I saw beautiful specimen plants trained into small multi-stemmed trees which reveal their attractive bark. To do so, select 3-5 main branches as a strong framework, remove all laterals until the top and clip its canopy into a mushroom head every summer. Thus, you can achieve a beautiful Mediterranean-style jewel. In its natural habitat it can grow 8 m tall or even more, however, in C.E. climate it makes about half of that.
Being from the heather family (Ericaceae) one would expect it would demand the same conditions as for example rhododendron. Not exactly. It needs extremely well-drained, humus rich soil in full sun or only light shade. Slightly acidic soil enhances the depth of green colour in leaves but is not essential. Always avoid compacted or water-logged ground where the roots may rot. It will need even moisture after transplanting but once established stay away from watering. We have not been able to observe its hardiness under all possible conditions but so far it has withstood -17 °C here which makes it suitable for at least USDA 7 without any protection. However, North American growers plant it up north to zone 6 claiming it can withstand -23°C without damage. Choose older plants for growing in zone 6 and provide good mulch for winter. It is disease free and as far as pests vine weevil attacks it rarely.
Last update 28-02-2024
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- STANDARD QUALITY - Plants of this group are 1st class quality with number of branches and overall density adequate to their size and age, considering they were container grown.
- DE LUXE QUALITY - This label guarantees a luxurious quality of manually selected plants that, compared to their height and age, are exceptionally dense and beautiful.
- EXTRA - These plants are usually mature and bigger specimens with exceptional overall appearance.
- STANDARD (as described in the plant form) means a tree with a trunk of 190-210 cm and a crown at the top, unless specified differently. The commercial size for trees is their girth measured in the height of 1m from ground.
- HOBBY - These plants are of the same quality as our standard-quality plants but younger and therefore cheaper.
- SHRUB - a woody plant with branches growing bushy from the ground level.
- HALF-STANDARD or MINI-STANDARD - a small tree with shorter trunk, its size is usually specified.
- FEATHERED - These are trees with branches growing already from the base of the trunk and up along the stem.
- GRASSES and PERENNIALS - Sizes given usually read the diameter of the pot or the clump, as specified.
