The fruits of the strawberry tree look very similar to the strawberries from the bed. We introduce you to the best varieties from American to Western strawberry trees and show you how to plant and care for strawberry trees in the garden.
Well, are those strawberries on the tree? Even if the fruits of the strawberry tree are reminiscent of the red berries, the strawberry tree is not related to them. We'll tell you what the strange tree is all about.
Strawberry tree: origin and properties
The strawberry tree (Arbutus), also known under the names country berry, hagapple or sea cherry, originally comes from regions such as the Mediterranean area, the Canary Islands or North America. The plant has fascinated people for a long time, as evidenced by its mention in the poems of Virgil and Ovid. Today, however, this plant is a real insider tip in Central European gardens.
The strawberry tree is characterized by quite slow growth, with a maximum height of about 5 to 40 meters outdoors - depending on the species. The leaves of the evergreen tree or shrub are reminiscent of those of the laurel tree. Strawberry trees can be expected to bear fruit from around five years of age. Depending on the species, the strawberry tree flowers in winter or spring, displaying its white to pink, paniculate, bell-shaped flowers, typical of the heather family (Ericaceae) to which the tree belongs. In the spring, the eponymous red-orange strawberry-shaped berries form, which can be harvested in the following autumn. This makes the strawberry tree an ideal eye-catcher in small and large gardens.
The best strawberry tree species
The eleven different species of strawberry tree are divided into old world and new world varieties based on their origin. Among the Old World species, the most notable are the western strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo), the eastern strawberry tree (Arbutus andrachne) and the canary strawberry tree ( Arbutus canariensis). As a representative ofThe American Strawberry Tree (Arbutus menziesii) is best known among New World species. The strawberry tree species differ in appearance mainly by their color and the shape of the flowers as well as the different growth height and winter hardiness.
Western Strawberry Tree
The western strawberry tree is particularly widespread in the western Mediterranean region, but is also found occasionally on the Atlantic coast as far as Ireland. While most fruit trees bloom in spring, the strawberry tree blooms in autumn and is therefore a real eye-catcher in the autumn garden. Between October and December, the western strawberry tree then shows white to pink, panicle-forming, bell-shaped flowers. The tree depends on cross-pollination. In order to enable the flowers to be fertilized, you must either have a strawberry tree in a neighboring garden or you can plant two of these extraordinary trees in your garden. The two to three centimeter large fruits ripen in the following year and can be harvested in autumn during the next flowering. The western strawberry tree reaches a height of three to five meters. Relatively little breeding work has been done on the varieties of the western strawberry tree, which is why a few special specimens are waiting for us here:
- Arbutus unedo 'Integerrima': The special feature of this variety is a particularly shrub-like growth with bright white flowers in late autumn.
- Arbutus unedo 'Rubra': This variety offers a special play of colors with pink to light purple flowers when it flowers in autumn.
- Arbutus unedo 'Compacta': This variety is ideal for anyone who wants a small strawberry tree as a container plant. It is characterized by a particularly small growth with a maximum height of one to two meters.
Canary Strawberry Tree
The Canary Strawberry Tree is originally only found on the Canary Islands, where it grows up to 15 meters tall. The fragrant and, in contrast to the western strawberry trees, self-pollinating flowers appear in February in a white to reddish hue. The fruits are ripe in late autumn to winter and are two to three centimeters in size.
Eastern Strawberry Tree
The eastern strawberry tree is native to the eastern Mediterranean, such as in Greece or southern Albania. The tree reaches a maximum height of twelve meters and the mostly white flowers appear from February.In autumn, the orange-red fruits, which are about one centimeter in size, can be nibbled.
American Strawberry Tree
The natural range of the American strawberry tree extends along the Pacific coast of North America. Due to the strong temperature fluctuations in this region, the American strawberry tree can withstand temperatures between -20 °C and +45 °C without any problems.
With a height of up to 40 meters and a trunk diameter of up to 150 centimetres, the New World American strawberry tree is the largest representative of the strawberry trees. Unlike the Old World strawberry trees, the American strawberry tree blooms between April and May, producing spike-like inflorescences over five inches tall with small hermaphroditic white flowers. The fruits are one centimeter in diameter but smaller than the fruits of the western strawberry tree.
Tip: The Plantura bee pasture attracts wild bees so that the blossoms of your strawberry tree are reliably pollinated even in autumn.
Planting a strawberry tree: location, time and procedure
Spring or autumn is the best time to plant your strawberry tree. Summer is less suitable because the strawberry tree is sensitive to drought after planting. Unfortunately, strawberry trees are not suitable as indoor plants, but need the sun in your garden or on the balcony. Varieties such as Arbutus unedo 'Compacta' can also be cultivated outside in planters. In order to avoid waterlogging, it is advisable not to use a saucer when cultivating in a pot.
The right location for strawberry trees
Most strawberry trees do best outdoors. Since the tree is very drought tolerant, it feels particularly at home in a dry and sunny corner of your garden. In winter, the American strawberry tree tolerates temperatures from -15 to -20 °C, all other species absolutely need winter protection and can only be planted in sheltered locations. For young strawberry trees, we recommend initially cultivating them in pots and hibernating frost-free until the tree is sufficiently hardy at the age of five and can be planted out.
The strawberry tree is not very demanding when it comes to soil and also thrives on less fertile ones floors. The substrate should be sandy and humus rich to slightly loamy and well drained.
How to plant a strawberry tree
For plantingIn your strawberry tree, dig a hole one and a half times the size of the root ball. We recommend a wooden pillar as a support, especially for trees over one and a half meters high. The tree can be fixed to the wooden pole with a tree connection made of coconut rope. However, the pole and tree must not touch each other, otherwise the bark will be damaged by the rubbing. After planting, water the sapling abundantly, preferably using a watering rim. Especially in the next three weeks you should pay attention to a good water supply. Our Plantura organic potting soil is ideal for cultivating a small strawberry tree in a bucket or improving your garden soil and can thus encourage the tree to bloom.
Tip: Because of the limited winter hardiness, we recommend protecting the trunks and branches of all types of strawberry trees with a jute sack, for example, on particularly cold nights or locations - this is especially true when the trees are still young.
Summary - Plant Strawberry Tree:
- Cultivation outdoors or in planters possible
- Sun to partial shade
- Warm and sheltered location
- No temperatures below -15 °C
- No waterlogging
- Loose, slightly acidic soil
- Planting in spring or autumn
- Support tree after planting
- Water copiously at the beginning
- Fertilize with Plantura organic flower fertilizer after two to three weeks
Care for, fertilize and water the strawberry tree
The strawberry tree is very drought tolerant, which makes it an easy-care eye-catcher in your garden. Pests are not a big issue for the strawberry tree. Only aphids can occasionally be observed on the tree. However, the infestation is usually limited. If not, you can send beneficial insects into the field against the aphids. Learn more about controlling aphids with beneficial insects here.
Since the plant also thrives on nutrient-poor soil, a fertilizer application in spring and summer, for example with our Plantura organic flower fertilizer, is sufficient. This provides a long-lasting supply of essential nutrients.
The best way to water the tree is with collected rainwater. This is good for the environment and contains less lime compared to tap water, which benefits the strawberry tree.
Pruning Strawberry Tree
The shoot tips of young strawberry trees can be shortened in spring to promote denser growth. Here should be a sharpSecateurs should be used to avoid crushing the wood. A smooth cut surface gives fungi less surface area to attack and helps keep the tree he althy. Older trees do best without interfering with growth. Heavy cuts into the old wood should be avoided if possible. Old wood should be removed from the crown and the branch cut back to green, i.e. living tissue.
Propagate Strawberry Tree
Both vegetative propagation via cuttings and generative propagation of the strawberry tree via the seeds in the fruit is possible:
Propagation via seeds is a bit more complex: the seeds swell in water for a few hours and are then stored in the refrigerator for two months, where they begin to germinate. The germinated seeds can then be planted.
Cuttings of the strawberry tree can be cut in autumn from woody but not too old shoots. The leaves of the cuttings, which are about ten centimeters long, are removed except for the top two and placed in soil. The cuttings are then covered with a clear hood and placed in a bright spot at room temperature. New strawberry trees will grow from the cuttings.
Are the fruits of the strawberry tree poisonous or edible?
The fruits, which look like strawberries, can be harvested in autumn. The fruits of the strawberry tree are edible, have a sweet-sour to sweet taste and a slightly floury consistency. They can be eaten raw or made into a very special jam in the kitchen.
In addition to the strawberry tree, there are numerous other exciting exotic fruit trees, some of which we would like to introduce to you in our special article on unknown types of fruit.