Arbutus andrachne

Arbutus andrachne, commonly called the Greek strawberry tree, is an evergreen shrub or small tree in the family Ericaceae, native to the Mediterranean region and the Middle East.

Description

An evergreen tree. It grows 10 m tall. It can spread 6 m across. The bark is red-brown and peels in thin strips. The freshly exposed bark is orange-brown. The leaves are oval and 10 cm long by 5 cm wide. Sometimes they have teeth. They are glossy green above and paler underneath. They are smooth. The flowers are small and urn shaped. They are 6 mm long. They are green but white when they open. They are in upright clusters 10 cm long on the shoots. The fruit is a fairly smooth, rounded, orange-red berry. They are 1 cm across.

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit Edible Uses: Fruit - raw or cooked[2, 22, 46, 105, 183, K]. A luscious, juicy texture with a sweet but insipid flavour. Many people do not like eating more than a few of the raw fruits, though I find them very acceptable. They make a good cooked fruit in preserves etc. The fruit is about 15mm in diameter.

Traditional Uses

The ripe fruit are eaten raw. They are also used for jam.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

None known

Distribution

It is a temperate plant. It is native to SE Europe and SW Asia. It grows in woods, thickets and on rocky slopes. It suits hardiness zones 6-9.

Where It Grows

Albania, Asia, Australia, Balkans, Cyprus, Europe, Greece, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Macedonia, Mediterranean, Middle East, Syria, Turkey, Türkiye,

Cultivation

Requires a nutrient-rich well-drained moisture-retentive soil in a sunny position with shelter from cold drying winds, especially when young. Requires a lime-free soil according to some reports, but it thrives on a limy soil according to other reports. Established plants are drought tolerant. Plants are hardy to about -15°c. The flowers are sweetly scented. Dislikes being transplanted, it should be placed in its final position whilst young, giving some protection in its first winter outdoors. Plants are very slow growing. Most plants cultivated under this name are in fact A. x andrachnoides 'Serratula'.

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.

Other Uses

Hedge Hedge Wood Plants can be grown as a hedge, they are tolerant of some trimming. Wood - hard, close-grained. Special Uses Hedge Hedge Scented Plants

Notes

There are 14 Arbutus species. This one can cross with Arbutus unedo.

Also Known As

Ağaç çileği, Ayı üzümü, Dağ çileği, Davulgu, Kaykab, Katlab, Qaiqab, Sandal ağacı

References (20)

• Al-Qura'n, S. A., 2010, Ethnobotanical and Ecological Studies of Wild Edible Plants in Jordan. Libyan Agriculture Research Center Journal International 1(4):231-243
• Bircher, A. G. & Bircher, W. H., 2000, Encyclopedia of Fruit Trees and Edible Flowering Plants in Egypt and the Subtropics. AUC Press. p 37
• Blamey, M and Grey-Wilson, C., 2005, Wild flowers of the Mediterranean. A & C Black London. p 166
• Cundall, P., (ed.), 2004, Gardening Australia: flora: the gardener's bible. ABC Books. p 172
• Davis, S.D., Heywood, V.H., & Hamilton, A.C. (eds), 1994, Centres of plant Diversity. WWF. Vol 2. p 340

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