Arbutus unedo 'Bocarm' MERCURIUS

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!

MERCURIUS is a French variety of frost-resistant strawberry tree, bred by Jean Giraudet from the French nursery Pépinières du Bocage in Sèvremont, near the city of Nantes in the west of France, and introduced in 2020. This is an absolutely adorable shrub with a slower growth and almost rounded habit, which, thanks to its narrow leaves, does not even slightly resemble the species. But only until the end of summer when it starts to bloom and produces fruit in autumn.

The leaves are evergreen, narrowly lanceolate, only about 4-6 cm long, acuminate, leathery, highly glossy, dark green and copper-red hues as they emerge with redder tips which look like little flames. An interesting thing: young leaves are profusely serrated at margins, but by early to midsummer the edges change to almost perfectly smooth (entire). The twigs are orange, reddish when young, and as the bark ages, it changes to a deep reddish-brown color with dark garnet-red wrinkles.

Arbutus belongs to heather family (Ericaceae) which is easy to tell looking at its flowers. They are urn-shaped, red and yellow, 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. We have not been able to observe its hardiness under all possible conditions but so far MERCURIUS has withstood -20 °C which makes it suitable for at least USDA 6b or warmer without any protection. Choose older plants for growing in zone 6 and provide good mulch for winter. It is pest and disease free.

Last update 21-08-2023