Arbutus unedo
Strawberry tree
Common names: Common strawberry tree, Sea cherry
At a glance
- Light
- Full sun
- Hardiness
- Hardy down to −10 °C
- Pruning
- Mar–Apr
- Harvest
- Oct–Dec
- Spacing
- 250 cm, rows 300 cm
- Water need
- Medium
Photo: Didier Descouens · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source
This description was machine-translated.
Description
The Strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo) is an evergreen shrub or small tree native to the Mediterranean region. It is notable for flowering and fruiting simultaneously: in autumn, white bell‑shaped flowers appear on the same branches as bright red, strawberry‑shaped fruits. The fruits are edible, mildly sweet to slightly mealy, and can be used for jams or liqueurs. The plant prefers mild, sheltered sites and tolerates frost only poorly, so in the DACH region it is usually grown on south‑facing walls or in containers. Its leathery evergreen leaves and peeling reddish‑brown bark make it an attractive ornamental plant even outside fruiting season.
Care instructions
Plant the Strawberry tree in a sunny, wind‑protected spot, ideally against a south‑facing wall or in a container that can be moved indoors during winter. The soil should be well‑draining and slightly acidic to neutral, not lime‑rich; the plant does not tolerate waterlogged roots but prefers moderate dryness. Water young plants regularly, then reduce watering once established. Pruning is generally unnecessary; remove only dead or overcrowded shoots, preferably in spring after the last frost. In a pot, a light mulch layer is beneficial, and early spring can be a good time to repot into fresh, low‑nutrient soil.
The care notes were machine-translated from German.
Garden year
SowingMar–Apr
HarvestOct–Dec
Germination
- Soil temperature
- from 10 °C, ideally 18 °C
- Days to sprout
- 30 to 90 days
- Light
- Needs light to sprout
- Sowing depth
- Press in, don't cover
- How to start
- Start indoors, then plant out
Soil & site
Soil pH
Soil type
well-drained, sandy, dry, lime-avoiding
The strawberry tree likes free-draining, rather sandy to stony soil and tolerates short dry spells far better than waterlogging. It copes well with poor ground and will thank you for a sunny, warm spot with heat storage, such as a wall nearby. Heavy, compacted soils should be loosened with sand or fine gravel before planting.
Feeding
Light feeder
As a Mediterranean wild plant, the strawberry tree needs hardly any feeding. A thin layer of mature compost in early spring is quite enough to supply it through the season. Soil that is too rich in nutrients encourages soft growth, which freezes more easily in winter, so it is better to stay sparing.
Pruning
The strawberry tree needs no annual shaping, but occasional thinning keeps the crown airy and encourages flowering. In early spring, remove dead, crossing or overcrowded branches, ideally just before new growth begins. The plant tolerates heavier cutting back well, as it reliably regrows from old wood.
Overwintering
In mild, wine-growing climates the strawberry tree usually gets through winter outdoors unharmed, but young plants appreciate a layer of mulch over the root zone. In harsher locations, a sheltered spot close to a wall or winter protection with horticultural fleece makes sense for the first few years. Potted plants are best overwintered in a bright, frost-free place at a few degrees above zero.
Propagation
Methods
- From seed
- Cuttings
- Layering
Sowing works best with fresh seed, but germination is irregular and needs patience over several weeks. Taking semi-ripe cuttings in late summer and rooting them in free-draining substrate is the more reliable method for the home garden. Layering from low-growing branches also works well if you have some time to spare. Rooted young plants need a sheltered, partly shaded spot at first before moving to full sun.
For your garden
Grow Strawberry tree yourself
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