arbutus unedo

Arbutus unedo. Photo courtesy Great Plant Picks.

Does your garden tend to look sad in late summer and fall? Consider adding seasonal interest with Arbutus unedo, or strawberry tree. It is a standout in the landscape this time of year, and continues to look beautiful all year long.

Features include:

  • Evergreen shrub with dark green, glossy leaves and attractive reddish-brown bark
  • Produces small white urn-shaped flowers in the fall
  • Also produces round, orange-red fruit in fall (the fruit is attractive but not edible)

Arbutus unedo is a large plant. It may reach 8 to 10 feet tall and wide in 10 years and eventually grow to 20 feet tall and wide.

The dwarf variety, Arbutus unedo ‘Compacta,’ grows more slowly. It may eventually reach six to 10 feet tall and wide.

Strawberry tree prefers full sun or light shade and well-drained soil. It is drought-tolerant once established. Grow it in a protected site to ensure fruit every year. The branching and bark’s sculptural qualities may be enhanced with pruning.

Find out more at Great Plant Picks, which recommends plants that grow well in the maritime Pacific Northwest. The website currently has over 900 recommended plants, including trees, shrubs, grasses, perennials and more.

 

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