strawberry tree
© Richie Steffen / Great Plant Picks
© Richie Steffen / Great Plant Picks
Arbutus unedo is a four-season evergreen shrub with outstanding flowers, fruit, leaves, and bark. The small, urn-shaped, whitish-pink flowers are produced from October to December. Round, ¾-inch, knobby fruits gradually ripen to orange-red and are often in color when the shrub is in full flower. Choose a protected site to ensure fruit every year. The dark green glossy foliage is beautiful, as is the attractive, cinnamon-colored bark. Prune shrubs to accentuate the sculptural qualities of the branching and bark.
Plant Type: shrub
Growth Habit: upright
Foliage Type: evergreen
Plant Height (10-year): 8 ft. 0 in. (2.44 meters)
Plant Width/Spread (10-year): 7 ft. 0 in. (2.13 meters)
Plant Height-Mature: 20 ft. 0 in. (6.10 meters)
Plant Width-Mature: 20 ft. 0 in. (6.10 meters)
Hardiness: USDA Zones 7 to 9
Flower Color: white
Flowering Time: fall
Sun/Light Exposure: full sun or light to open shade
Water Requirements: drought tolerant when established
Seasonal Interest: autumn flowers & fruit; year-round attractive foliage & bark
Wildlife Associations: bees, birds, hummingbirds
Great Plant Combinations:
Great Color Contrasts: White, red, burgundy
Great Color Partners: Green, Bronze
This versatile shrub tolerates a wide variety of soil conditions including sand and clay, but it must have a well-drained location. The growth is best in full sun to open shade and is drought tolerant once established. Foliage and flowers may be damaged in unusually cold winters, but it will recover in the spring. Plants in protected locations are more reliable fruit producers.
Native to western Europe and the Mediterranean region.
Text and photos ©2020 Great Plant Picks/Elisabeth Carey Miller Garden except where otherwise noted
Funded by the Pendleton and Elisabeth Carey Miller Charitable Foundation, The Seattle Times, and Individual Donors
Administered by the Elisabeth Carey Miller Botanical Garden