Arbutus andrachne

The Greek Strawberry Tree (Arbutus andrachne L.) is an evergreen shrub

Shrub

A shrub or bush is a horticultural rather than strictly botanical category of woody plant, distinguished from a tree by its multiple stems and lower height, usually less than 5-6 m tall. A large number of plants can be either shrubs or trees, depending on the growing conditions they experience...

 or small tree

Tree

A tree is a perennial woody plant. It is most often defined as a woody plant that has many secondary branches supported clear of the ground on a single main stem or trunk with clear apical dominance. A minimum height specification at maturity is cited by some authors, varying from 3 m to...

 in the family Ericaceae

Ericaceae

Ericaceae, the heath family or the heather family is a plant family, comprising mostly calcifuge plants that thrive in acidic soils. Many well-known plants of the Ericaceae live in temperate climates, such as cranberry, blueberry, various heaths and heathers , huckleberry, azalea and rhododendron...

, native to the Mediterranean region and southwestern Asia.

"There was on the road a small tree bearing a fruit somewhat bigger than our largest cherries, and of the shape and taste of strawberries, but a little acid. It is pleasant to eat; but, if a great quantity be eaten, it mounts to the head, and intoxicates.

The Greek Strawberry Tree (Arbutus andrachne L.) is an evergreen shrub

Shrub

A shrub or bush is a horticultural rather than strictly botanical category of woody plant, distinguished from a tree by its multiple stems and lower height, usually less than 5-6 m tall. A large number of plants can be either shrubs or trees, depending on the growing conditions they experience...

 or small tree

Tree

A tree is a perennial woody plant. It is most often defined as a woody plant that has many secondary branches supported clear of the ground on a single main stem or trunk with clear apical dominance. A minimum height specification at maturity is cited by some authors, varying from 3 m to...

 in the family Ericaceae

Ericaceae

Ericaceae, the heath family or the heather family is a plant family, comprising mostly calcifuge plants that thrive in acidic soils. Many well-known plants of the Ericaceae live in temperate climates, such as cranberry, blueberry, various heaths and heathers , huckleberry, azalea and rhododendron...

, native to the Mediterranean region and southwestern Asia.

"There was on the road a small tree bearing a fruit somewhat bigger than our largest cherries, and of the shape and taste of strawberries, but a little acid. It is pleasant to eat; but, if a great quantity be eaten, it mounts to the head, and intoxicates. It is ripe in November and December." arly Travels in Palestine]

Red Barked Strawberry Tree. Beautiful evergreen (20 ft) with everything. Fast growing, winter flowering and the most remarkable bark.
This handsome tree has cinnamon red bark which peels to show lemon coloured patches. The trunk is rather sinuous in effect and writhes, almost serpent like, on ancient specimens. There are shiny oval green leaves. The flowers which form pendulous clusters of little white bells sometimes come in spring and sometimes in autumn or winter, though fruit rarely develops. The plant arose by natural hybridisation in the wild. But it is rather variable, so you should choose a specimen for your garden with care. The tree is moderately hardy: it grows in the open at Kew and it can even be found growing in the north of Scotland in less frost-prone areas.

height 8m spread 8 m hardiness fully hardy
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