Arbutus unedo 'Levan' PEACE AND LOVE strawberry tree

PEACE AND LOVE is a French cultivar of strawberry tree, selected by François Leverge in 2008 at his nursery Pépinière Le Verge in Brittany. The cultivar is protected under European law CPVO EU 69807 with the breeder’s name ‘Levap’ (2025). The trade name PEACE AND LOVE evokes harmony and positive vibes, inspired by the ideals of peace and love reminiscent of the hippie era. Was it merely a marketing concept highlighting the plant’s aesthetics and the sense of calm it brings to the garden – or a deliberate nod to the iconic round symbol of the hippie movement? A glance at the leaf shape suggests the latter 😊

The foliage of this strawberry tree is truly distinctive. Evergreen, broadly obovate, often appearing almost rounded at the tip, the leaves display venation that – believe it or not – resembles an upside‑down letter Y, just like the hippie peace symbol. They are 3–5 cm long, leathery in texture, and bright green in colour. Young shoots emerge reddish, later maturing into a warm chestnut‑red, adding another layer of elegance. The habit is compact, nearly spherical, with dense branching. Growth is slow to moderate, about 15–20 cm per year. Mature plants typically reach 1.5–2 m in height and about 1.5 m in width, making them suitable for smaller gardens or as a striking feature in a front border.

As a member of the heath family (Ericaceae), the strawberry tree bears lily‑of‑the‑valley‑like blossoms. These are small, clustered in short racemes, and appear from autumn through spring. Peace and Love produces very pale, almost porcelain‑white flowers. Once pollinated, they develop into edible fruits that take a full year to ripen: round berries about 2 cm across, initially light green, then yellowish, and finally strawberry‑red when mature, hence the tree’s common name. With a sugar content of up to 20%, the fruits are not especially flavourful when eaten raw, but they are well suited to jams, liqueurs, and other preparations. Since they ripen slowly and abundantly, unharvested fruits often overripen and ferment naturally in the sun without spoiling. Drivers should take care when consuming them, as they may already contain alcohol. On the other hand, they are commonly sought after by grazing wild animals. In the Mediterranean, the strawberry tree ripens in spring; in Central Europe, autumn blossoms usually succumb to frost, so we wait for spring flowering. If followed by a hot, sunny summer, fruits may ripen by autumn but this cannot be relied upon.

Strawberry tree generally forms an attractive shape without pruning, but it can be trained. Ideally, prune in spring after frosts to encourage denser branching. It is often shaped into a rounded form, and multi‑stemmed specimens are especially striking: retain several strong upright branches as the framework, remove the rest, and in summer shape the crown into a mushroom‑like dome. This highlights the plant’s beautiful reddish‑brown branches to full effect.

It requires good, nutrient‑rich, exceptionally well‑drained soil, where the roots will not rot in winter. It copes easily with clay subsoil at greater depth. After planting, keep the ground evenly moist, but once established, reduce or even stop watering – it is accustomed to surviving the whole summer on rainfall alone, without additional irrigation. Grow it in full sun or partial shade, preferably in a sheltered position. We recommend planting stronger specimens with mature wood to avoid damage to young shoots during the first winter. We have not yet been able to test it in the harshest frosts, but it is assumed to withstand at least as much as its parent: around –23 °C. It does not suffer from diseases or pests.

Last update 01-12-2025.