| Name |
Specimen
- Arbutus Unedo - The Strawberry Tree |
| Cultivation |
Requires
a nutrient-rich well-drained moisture-retentive soil in sun or semi-shade
and shelter from cold drying winds, especially when young. Grows well
in heavy clay soils and in dry soils. Most species in this genus require
a lime-free soil but this species is fairly lime tolerant. Succeeds in
fairly exposed maritime positions. A tree in a very exposed position at
Rosewarne in N. Cornwall was looking rather tattered in April 1987 but
it was 4.5 metres tall and carrying a very good crop of immature fruit.
Tolerates industrial pollution. Plants have withstood temperatures down
to -16°c without injury at Kew. They grow very well in S.W. England,
fruiting well in Cornwall. Plants resent root disturbance and are best
placed in their final positions whilst young. Give them some protection
in their first winter. The strawberry tree flowers in November and December,
the fruit takes 12 months to ripen and so the tree carries both mature
fruit and flowers at the same time and is incredibly beautiful at this
time. The flowers have a soft honey scent.
The plant prefers
light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils, requires well-drained soil and
can grow in heavy clay soil. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic
(alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade.
It requires dry or moist soil. The plant can tolerate maritime exposure.
It can tolerate atmospheric pollution. |
| Family |
Ericaceae |
| Genus |
Arbutus |
| Synonyms |
strawberry
tree, Irish strawberry |
| Known
Hazards |
None
Known |
| Range |
S.
Europe and S.W. Ireland. |
| Height |
An
evergreen Tree growing to 9m by 8m at a medium rate. |
| Habitat |
Woodland
Garden; Secondary; Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade;
Woodland, scrub and rocky hillsides, often on limestone and sandstone.
It is hardy and is not frost tender. It is in leaf all year, in flower from
October to December, and the seeds ripen from October to December. The flowers
are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated
by Bees. The plant is self-fertile. |
| Characteristics |
|
| Edible
Uses |
Edible
Parts: Fruit.
Fruit - raw or cooked.
Sweet but insipid. The Latin name 'unedo' means 'I eat one (only)' and
suggests that the fruit is not very palatable, though another report says
that the fruit is so delicious that a person only needs to eat one. It
does have a somewhat gritty skin, but the fruit itself has the texture
of a lush tropical fruit and has a delicate pleasant flavour. For those
people with sensitive taste buds, this is a fruit that can be enjoyed
when eaten in moderate quantities. The fruit contains about 20% sugars
and can be used to make delicious and nourishing jams and preserves. It
is ripe in November/December and is about 15mm in diameter. When fully
ripe it falls from the tree and so it is advisable to grow the plant in
short grass in order to cushion the fall of the fruit |
| Medicinal
Uses |
Antiseptic;
Astringent; Diuretic.
The strawberry tree
is little used in herbalism, though it does deserve modern investigation.
All parts of the plant contain ethyl gallate, a substance that possesses
strong antibiotic activity against the Mycobacterium bacteria. The leaves,
bark and root are astringent and diuretic. They are also a renal antiseptic
and so are of use in the treatment of affections of the urinary system
such as cystitis and urethritis. Their astringent action makes them of
use in the treatment of diarrhoea and dysentery and, like many other astringent
plants, a gargle can be made for treating sore and irritated throats.
The leaves are gathered in the summer and dried for later use. The flowers
are weakly diaphoretic. |
| Other
Uses |
Tannin;
Wood.
Tannin is obtained
from the leaves, bark and fruit. The bark contains 45% tannin. Wood -
used for turning, Greek flutes etc. It makes a good charcoal.
The flowers have a soft honey scent. |
| Propagation |
Seed
- best surface sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe. Stored seed should
be soaked for 5 - 6 days in warm water and then surface sown in a shady
position in a greenhouse. Do not allow the compost to become dry. 6 weeks
cold stratification helps. The seed usually germinates well in 2 - 3 months
at 20°c. Seedlings are prone to damp off, they are best transplanted
to individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle and should
be kept well ventilated. Grow them on in a greenhouse for their first winter
and then plant out in late spring after the last expected frosts. Basal
cuttings in late winter. Cuttings of mature wood of the current season's
growth, November/December in a frame. Poor percentage. Layering of young
wood - can take 2 years. |
| Cultivars |
There
are a number of named varieties developed for their ornamental value.
'Elfin King', 'Croomei' and 'Rubra' are all small forms that fruit well
when small. The variety 'Rubra' was 1.2 metres tall at Kew in late 1990
and was laden down with fruits and flowers. 'Elfin King' only reaches
a height of 1 metre, comes into bearing when young and fruits well. It
is ideal for container culture. 'Croomei' is said to be a more reliable
fruiting form.
'Compacta'
A dwarf cultivar, it is said not to flower very freely.
'Croomei'
A dwarf-growing cultivar, it is said to be a reliable fruiting form.
'Elfin King'
The fruits are up to 25mm in diameter and have a sweet flavour. A slow-growing
compact plant, often no more than 1 metre tall. It comes into bearing
early, sets fruit freely and is ideal for container growing.
'Rubra'
Smaller than the species type, this form grows to about 2 - 3 metres in
height, fruiting abundantly even when only 60cm tall |