Arbutus unedo

Arbutus unedo, commonly known as strawberry tree, also called madrone, is an evergreen shrub or small tree in the family Ericaceae, native to the Mediterranean Basin and Western Europe. The tree is well known for its fruits, the arbutus berry, which bear some resemblance to the strawberry, hence the common name strawberry tree. However, it is not closely related to true strawberries of the genus Fragaria. Its presence in Ireland also lends it the name Irish strawberry tree, or cain, or cane apple (from the Irish name for the tree, caithne), or sometimes Killarney strawberry tree. The strawberry tree is the national tree of Italy because of its green leaves, its white flowers and its red berries, colors that recall the Italian flag. The flower of the strawberry tree is the national flower of Italy.

Description

A small tree. It can be 9 m high. The bark is dark grey-brown. It is rather fibrous and scaly. The trunk is short and the branches twisted. The smaller branches and twigs are reddish. The leaves are alternate and evergreen. The are narrowly oval and taper to the tip and narrow to the base. There are teeth around the edge. The leaves are dark green. The flowers are small and bell-shaped. They are white or pink. They occur in clusters. The fruits are strawberry-like. They are 2.5 cm across. They contain many seeds.

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit Edible Uses: Fruit - raw or cooked. Sweet but insipid. The Latin name 'unedo' means 'I eat one (only)' and suggests that the fruit is not very palatable, though another report says that the fruit is so delicious that a person only needs to eat one. It does have a somewhat gritty skin, but the fruit itself has the texture of a lush tropical fruit and has a delicate pleasant flavour. For those people with sensitive taste buds, this is a fruit that can be enjoyed when eaten in moderate quantities. The fruit contains about 20% sugars and can be used to make delicious and nourishing jams and preserves. It is ripe in November/December and is about 15mm in diameter. When fully ripe it falls from the tree and so it is advisable to grow the plant in short grass in order to cushion the fall of the fruit.

Traditional Uses

The fruit are usually not eaten raw because they have little taste. They are used for drinks, sweets and other dishes. They can be used for jam.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

Antiseptic Astringent Diuretic Dysentery Urinary The strawberry tree is little used in herbalism, though it does deserve modern investigation. All parts of the plant contain ethyl gallate, a substance that possesses strong antibiotic activity against the Mycobacterium bacteria. The leaves, bark and root are astringent and diuretic. They are also a renal antiseptic and so are of use in the treatment of affections of the urinary system such as cystitis and urethritis. Their astringent action makes them of use in the treatment of diarrhoea and dysentery and, like many other astringent plants, a gargle can be made for treating sore and irritated throats. The leaves are gathered in the summer and dried for later use. The flowers are weakly diaphoretic.

Distribution

It is a temperate plant. It is native to Ireland. They need full sun and fertile well-drained soil. It can tolerate reasonable frosts. It can tolerate salt laden winds but not very cold winds. They do not do well on alkaline soils. It suits hardiness zones 7-10. Tasmania Herbarium. Arboretum Tasmania.

Where It Grows

Africa, Albania, Algeria, Asia, Australia, Balkans, Bosnia, Britain, Canada, Colombia, Croatia, Europe, France, Greece, Indochina, Ireland, Italy, Libya, Mediterranean*, Morocco, North Africa, North America, Portugal, San Marino, SE Asia, Sicily, Slovenia, Spain, Tasmania, Tunisia, Turkey, Türkiye, Yugoslavia, Vietnam,

Cultivation

Requires a nutrient-rich well-drained moisture-retentive soil in sun or semi-shade and shelter from cold drying winds, especially when young. Grows well in heavy clay soils and in dry soils. Most species in this genus require a lime-free soil but this species is fairly lime tolerant. Succeeds in fairly exposed maritime positions. A tree in a very exposed position at Rosewarne in N. Cornwall was looking rather tattered in April 1987 but it was 4.5 metres tall and carrying a very good crop of immature fruit. Tolerates industrial pollution. Plants have withstood temperatures down to -16°c without injury at Kew. They grow very well in S.W. England, fruiting well in Cornwall. Plants resent root disturbance and are best placed in their final positions whilst young. Give them some protection in their first winter. The strawberry tree flowers in November and December, the fruit takes 12 months to ripen and so the tree carries both mature fruit and flowers at the same time and is incredibly beautiful at this time. The flowers have a soft honey scent. There are a number of named varieties developed for their ornamental value. 'Elfin King', 'Croomei' and 'Rubra' are all small forms that fruit well when small. The variety 'Rubra' was 1.2 metres tall at Kew in late 1990 and was laden down with fruits and flowers. 'Elfin King' only reaches a height of 1 metre, comes into bearing when young and fruits well. It is ideal for container culture. 'Croomei' is said to be a more reliable fruiting form. In garden design, as well as the above-ground architecture of a plant, root structure considerations help in choosing plants that work together for their optimal soil requirements including nutrients and water.

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

Tannin Wood Tannin is obtained from the leaves, bark and fruit. The bark contains 45% tannin. Wood - used for turning, Greek flutes etc. It makes a good charcoal. Special Uses Espalier Food Forest Scented Plants

Production

It grows slowly. Fruit take 12 months to ripen.

Other Information

It is cultivated.

Notes

There are 14 Arbutus species. Fruit are rich in niacin, vitamin C and beta-carotene.

Nutrition

Synonyms

Also Known As

Albatro, Albornial, Arboc, Ayicilegi, Bakhanou, Caithne, Cilek, Dag cilegi, Davulga, Erbedo, Gan'l, Kaucuk davulgasi, Killarney strawberry, Kocakari yemisi, Kocay emis, Kumari-yes, Madrono, Maginja, Magunja, Navadna jagodičnica, Planika, Prva, Sasnou, Yabani cilek

References (63)

• Balut, G., 2016, Medicinal and wild food plants of Marmara Island (Balikesir - Turkey). Acta Societatis Botanicorum Poloniae 85 (2): 3501
• Bianchini, F., Corbetta, F., and Pistoia, M., 1975, Fruits of the Earth. Cassell. p 158
• 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 165
• Blanco-Salas, J., et al, 2019, Wild Plants Potentially Used in Human Food in the Protected Area “Sierra Grande de Hornachos” of Extremadura (Spain). Sustainability 2019, 11, 456

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