TREE OF THE MONTH - NOVEMBER 2016 THE STRAWBERRY TREE

Strawberry Tree fruit. Image by Lucarelli (Own work) via Wikimedia Commons

The Strawberry Tree, or Killarney Strawberry Tree (Arbutus unedo), is an attractive evergreen that really earns its keep in the garden in late autumn when the flowers and fruit (after which it is named) appear simultaneously. If the fruit look appetising, I should caution that they are generally described as being a bit dry, bland and disappointing. Pliny went further and apparently said that you would only eat one - hence the species name 'unedo' - meaning 'eat only one'. That said, wikipedia reports its use in cakes, jams, liqueurs and honey production - so perhaps Pliny was a bit of a gastro-snob. Bears seem to like them judging by Madrid's statue of a bear eating from the tree which is also depicted on their Coat of Arms (pictured) - so today I tried to taste one from my neighbour's tree in order to be able to  report with some authority - but none were in reach - perhaps luckily. I will update if I get the chance.

Madrid's Coat of Arms

The tree is native to the Cork, Kerry and Sligo counties of Ireland, as well as Portugal, Spain, Morocco, France, Greece and the Mediterranean Coast to Lebanon and Israel. It belongs to the Heather family, Ericaceae, and its 6mm pitcher shaped flowers are very reminiscent of heather itself. Strangely for a plant of the acid loving Heather family, the Strawberry tree will tolerate lime in the soil and in parts of Ireland it grows on almost bare limestone rock.

Flowers. Image by P.gibellini via Wikimedia Commons

The flowers are a translucent creamy white, often tinged pink as in the photograph, hanging in panicles of 10 to 30, subtly cloaking the trees in autumn.  A deeper pink cultivar 'Rubra' has been cultivated since it was found growing wild in Ireland in 1835.

Pollination is by bees and the tree provides valuable late foraging when there is little else about except ivy. But here again, Pliny turned his Roman nose up, advising that they should not be planted near bees as they add a distinctive bitterness to the honey produced. I hope Pliny was wrong since we have recently installed our first hive at Hearne Arboriculture HQ and our neighbour has a large Strawberry tree which is heavily laden with flowers as I write.

The autumn flowers provide good late foraging for bees. Image by Dodoïste (Own work) via Wikimedia Commons

Flowers and fruit from last years flowers appear at the same time. There are unusually few fruit on this, my neighbour's, tree this year.

Fully grown tree

Strawberry trees have healthy glossy leaves that seem to suffer little from insect or other attack. The tree forms a dense rounded crown and tolerates salt well, making it useful in exposed coastal locations. It can grow to about 30 feet in height. The tree hybridises naturally with the Grecian or Cypress Strawberry Tree (Arbutus andrachne) where their ranges overlap and the resulting Hybrid Strawberry tree (Arbutus x andrachnoides) has inherited a degree of hardiness that the Grecian form lacks. This is fortunate as it will grow well here in sheltered locations and has an outstanding decorative bark.

Hybrid Strawberry tree. Fellow's Garden, Christ's College, Cambridge - October 2016

Hybrid Strawberry tree bark - Canford School. July 2016

There are also a number of American species one of which is cultivated here - the Madrona (Arbutus menziesii) - 'Madrona' coming from the Spanish name Madrono for the Strawberry Tree. The Madrona, like the Hybrid Strawberry tree, is noted for its superbly decorative bark, the red peeling to reveal a yellowy cream colour beneath.

Madrona bark - Original photo by (c)2007 NaJina McEnany. via Wikimedia Commons

Arbutus will tolerate most soil but avoid wet sites. They reportedly do not transplant well so use container grown plants whenever possible.