Garden Plant: Dwarf Strawberry Tree
Dwarf Strawberry Tree
Product Description: Dwarf Strawberry Tree
Unique, Water-wise, Hardy Evergreen
Unless you live on the West Coast You’ve probably never even heard of the Strawberry Tree, and if you do live on the West Coast and you haven’t heard of it, then you need to stop reading and call us right now and order one of these for your garden!
This water-wise tree is really a gracefully branched shrub with glossy evergreen leaves. It is covered in masses of snow-white flowers that give way to bright red strawberry-like fruit. Often the fruits and flower are on the tree at the same time, giving a striking effect.
Yes, the fruit of the Dwarf Strawberry tree is edible. They look like round strawberries, but taste more woodsy – kind of like a guava/apricot mix. They are high in vitamin C and people use them for fresh eating, jams, pie-filling or wine. A word of caution, though – if eaten under-ripe they can cause nausea and if too overripe they can have a mild intoxicating effect. Consume carefully!
Strawberry Trees (Arbutus unido \’Compacta’) are handsome in the landscape. As they age their cinnamon colored bark becomes peeling and shaggy and is unmistakably beautiful. Plant them about 5 feet from a walk or patio to allow the artfully curved and twisted branches to mature naturally without being pruned. Water them enough just to establish, then grow them dry and well drained.
Use a pair to flank an entryway. Plant several along a property line. Use in a big border or bed as a fantastic specimen plant. Leave it unpruned for an ornmental privacy tree. These hardy evergreens are unique and wonderful and should be staples in every West Coast garden.
- Hardy Evergreen
- Xeric
- Wildlife Love It