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Strawberry Tree Flower Wikimedia Commons
Ericaceae

Strawberry Tree Flower

Arbutus unedo

Patience and reward.

Family
Ericaceae
Genus
Arbutus
Native to
Mediterranean Region, Western Europe, Ireland
Bloom season
Fall, Winter
Type
tree
Height
15-30 ft
Sunlight
full sun to part shade
Soil
Well-drained, acidic to neutral soil
Water
low
Hardiness
7-10
Lifespan
perennial

Did you know

  • Strawberry Tree uniquely bears flowers and ripe fruit simultaneously, as fruits take a full year to mature.
  • The species name 'unedo' reportedly comes from Pliny the Elder's remark 'unum edo' meaning 'I eat only one,' implying the fruit is not very tasty.
  • It is the featured tree on the coat of arms of Madrid, shown with a bear eating its fruit.
  • The fruits are edible and are used to make medronho, a traditional Portuguese brandy.
  • Strawberry Tree is one of the few broad-leaved evergreen trees native to Ireland and the British Isles.

Color meanings

0

self-sufficiency

1

esteem

Uses

  • ornamental tree
  • edible fruit
  • brandy production
  • Mediterranean gardens