Arbutus unedo 'COMPACTA' hardy strawberry tree
Arbutus
I am a great admirer of the Mediterranean macchia. This term refers to a unique type of predominantly evergreen broadleaf vegetation found in the arid and often rocky landscapes of southern Europe. It includes species such as osmanthus, strawberry tree, holm oak, rosemary, broom, Phillyrea, and many others. These plants have developed a defensive arsenal against extreme drought (thick, leathery leaves serving as water reservoirs), heat (glossy foliage reflecting sunlight), and grazing animals (spines or repellent aromatic oils), which has enabled them to survive in very inhospitable places.
We have also discovered that this resilience somehow translates into their frost hardiness, too, so we began testing them one by one. Today we already have an entire group of Mediterranean plants that are thriving increasingly well here in zone 6, since with the changing climate the soil is losing water and these shrubs and small trees are not only accustomed to drought – they actually require it. Moreover, they are evergreen, which is an important advantage for our long winters.
Strawberry tree is another of my favourite evergreen plant from the trial field of Mediterranean plants where we test originally tender plants in C.E. continental climate. We have noticed that in the changing climate many macchia plants are exceptionally suited for milder parts of our country. Sufficient hardiness is an important feature, however, current lack of water in the ground and less rain make drought-tolerant plants like this one a desirable species even here. Arbutus unedo is one of them and the species has not proved commonly hardy when the temperature dropped below -15 °C. However, there are varieties and selections which performed a miracle! Compacta is one of them.
Compacta is a strawberry tree selection found many years ago as a seedling of the species. It boasts a neat and well-behaved habit, dense branching, and improved hardiness. Its evergreen leaves are narrowly obovate, 5-7 cm long, finely serrated at margins, they emerge bronze red and remain soft green for a long time before they mature to deep green. Always very glossy and erect.
Arbutus belongs to heather family (Ericaceae) which is easy to tell looking at its flowers. They are urn-shaped, red and white, composed in pendent racemes, and show up from autumn until late spring, and sporadically throughout summer, too. Meanwhile mature small, spherical, and edible fruit which is bright red when mature hence the tree name. It contains as much as 20% of sugar but the taste is rather dull so it is mostly used in preserves and liquors.
Strawberry tree is one of the key features of so-called macchia vegetation found in dry and hot, rocky slopes of South Europe. Its plants cope extremely well with long-lasting drought and are usually unattacked by wild animals. Compacta remains smaller and compact, yet you can enhance its branching in spring after all frosts. I saw beautiful specimen plants trained into small multistemmed trees which reveal the beautiful red-brown bark. 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.
Grow it in 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. Just 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. It is pest and disease free, and so far hardy to USDA zone 6 – short spells of -23°C. Choose older plants for growing in zone 6 and provide good mulch for winter.
Last update 13-09-2020
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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.
