A small and very attractive evergreen small tree (or shrub) with bell-shaped creamy-white flowers and pretty fruits.
Description
Arbutus unedo, also known as the Strawberry Tree, is a stunning evergreen tree (or shrub) that is native to the Mediterranean and parts of western Europe. It provides seasoal interest all year round with evergreen foliage that has serrated edges and is dark green and glossy, contrasting well with the attractive bark that is a cinnamon-brown colour that peels in narrow strips to reveal coppery-orange underneath. In autumn, long panicles of white flowers resembling lily of the valley appear, alongside small, spherical fruits from last year's flowers that look like strawberries, hence the name! These start as yellow and ripen to red, contrasting beautifully with the white flowers.
Planting Position
Arbutus unedo prefers to grow in a sheltered spot in moist but well-drained soil in sun or partial shade, for best results. It’s tolerant of chalk soils and thrives really well in coastal areas, but it can also be grown inland.
Attributes
A beautiful specimen for any garden, especially coastal areas. This tree provides year round interest with evergreen foliage, interesting bark that peels, with the added bonus of long panicles of white flowers in autumn that are accompanied by small fruits resembling strawberries.
