Strawberry tree, Killarney Strawberry tree, Irish Strawberry tree Cane Apple

Arbutus unedo is commonly referred to as the Strawberry tree due to the strawberry-like fruits which are produced in the autumn time; however, don’t be fooled, they do NOT taste good!

This attractive evergreen tree has young shoots that are tinged red and harden to dark green.  The small white, bell-shaped flowers appear in small clusters and are produced together with the red fruit in the autumn, providing a contrasting display. 

As this tree matures, the brown bark sheds, giving it a peeling, ragged appearance. The late flowering of this tree makes it useful for bees in honey production, and the fruit is also tasty for birds. Fruits can be used to produce jams, beverages, and liquors for human consumption, however are not advisable to eat raw.

A popular garden tree which was awarded the RHS Award of Garden Merit in 2002 and of a First Class Certificate in 1933!

Arbutus unedo, commonly known as the Strawberry Tree, tolerates most soil conditions but prefers moist, well-drained soil. Unusually for an ericaceous plant, it can tolerate lime. Its tough evergreen leaves make it a good choice for exposed and coastal sites. At Barcham, we produce the Strawberry Tree in a multi-stemmed bush form, which enhances its suitability for these challenging locations.

This tree produces an oval headed specimen at maturity and can be useful as a screening tree. It is also a good choice in gardens where management is required to limit size and spread as it will tolerate hard pruning in late March/April (after the last frost), very vigorously growing back to its former glory.

Mature height: 3-7m

Common names

Strawberry tree, Killarney Strawberry tree, Irish Strawberry tree Cane Apple

Height of tree

3-7m

Tree type

Evergreen

Soil type

Well drained, Will tolerate most soil types

Shape

Multi-stemmed

Foliage Colour

Green

Information Flags

Good for bees, Award

Looks good in

Autumn

Location

Garden

Genus

Arbutus