Strawberry Trees

strawberry trees

Compact evergreen trees for winter presence are few and far between.

But the strawberry tree, Arbutus unedo, delivers beautifully with its neatly serrated leathery foliage and refined shape. By late autumn the creamy white pitcher-shaped flowers hang in clusters, often accompanied by small red strawberry-like fruits, formed from the previous year’s flowers.

The species name, unedo, is said to mean “I only eat one”, according to Pliny. Although the fruits are said to be edible, they apparently leave an unpleasant aftertaste. The common name, Killarney strawberry tree, indicates that A. unedo is a native of south-west Ireland as well as southern Europe. In all, there are 15 species found in rocky areas of Europe, the south-western USA, Mexico and Central America.


A. unedo grows widely in Greece along with a more tender and spring-flowering species called the Grecian strawberry tree (Arbutus andrachne). This is a very attractive tree with a trunk and stems that share the same snuff-brown hue and papery texture of cinnamon sticks. Unfortunately, it is too tender for British gardens but can survive in very sheltered positions once mature.

Thankfully, nature has provided us with a hardier hybrid, Arbutus x andrachnoides. This wide-spreading yet small tree is sometimes called the red-barked strawberry tree. The quality of clone can differ and misnaming in the nursery trade is rife, so it is worth purchasing from a good nursery – particularly as the textured bark takes time to develop. A good form is a winter delight.

However, if you desire end-of-the-year flowers to lift the November gloom, opt for A. unedo instead. Although the roughly fissured, dull brown bark is not particularly exciting, it is still an exceptional winter specimen and produces fruit more readily.

Several distinct forms of A. unedo have been selected; ‘Rubra’ is a pink-belled form, ‘Atlantic’ a free-flowering compact form which fruits early, plus a dense bushy form called ‘Elfin King’. However, these lack the simple elegance of the species, to my eye.

There is also an interesting hybrid of unknown provenance (arguably between A. x andrachnoides and A. canariensis) called ‘Marina’. This spectacular plant has much larger panicles of rose pink flowers, beautiful peeling bark, bigger and shinier leaves, and larger fruits. Plants in pots have withstood temperatures as low as -15C at Madrona Nursery in Kent but it is considered to be less tolerant of lime and chalk than other varieties.

Despite their beauty, strawberry trees are not as widely grown now as they were 100 years ago. Instead we nurture the olive, which limps rather sadly through winter in many areas. Yet these evergreen beauties have much more to offer and they fit into British gardens well. Perhaps warmer winters will encourage more of you to plant them.