Arbutus

( arb - YEW - tus )

At-A-Glance Information

This genus of evergreen trees or shrubs needs full sun and little to regular water, and go by the common names Madrone and Strawberry Tree. These interesting trees are known for their ornamental bark, decorative edible fruit, and urn-shaped flowers. Foliage looks handsome year-round. These trees can sometimes be mistaken for Manzanita, or vice-versa, due to the similar bark, leaves, and flowers. These plants can be used as hedges, specimens or focal-point plantings, and in smaller gardens as shade trees.

Arbutus Species and Varietals

The genus Arbutus is a member of the plant family Ericaceae, and includes 12 species. The best growing zones for Arbutus depend on the species; for more information, see the descriptions below. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Arbutus andrachne (Greek Strawberry Tree, Eastern Strawberry Tree)
Grows best in zones 8, 9 and 14-24. Native to the eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East, this evergreen shrub or small tree grows to 20-40 feet tall and wide. This species has beautiful, peeling bark. Springtime flowers are yellow-green to white and bloom in springtime. Fruits ripen in fall, and are commonly left out to dry in a cool place, later eaten as candy.

Arbutus x andrachnoides (Hybrid Strawberry Tree)
This hybrid was naturally created by a cross between Arbutus andrachne and Arbutus unedo. Young trees will have darker bark, lightening with age to orange-brown at maturity. Bark can be peeled to reveal new pistachio-colored wood that over time reverts to orange-brown.

​Arbutus arizonica (Arizona Madrone)
Grow best in zones 4-24; native to Arizona, New Mexico, and northwestern Mexico. Grows to 35-45 feet tall and wide at maturity. Trunks are attractive and twisting with pinkish-brown bark. Fruits are orange-red and eaten in the tree's native range. This is a cold-hardy species of Madrone, handling temperatures down to -15 degrees Fahrenheit.

Arbutus canariensis (Canary Islands Strawberry Tree, Madrono Canario, Canarian Strawberry Tree)
This species is threatened by habitat loss in its native range in the Canary Islands in Spain (more specifically, the islands of Tenerife, La Gomera, Gran Canaria, El Hierro, and La Palma). Bark is dark red and peeling, and fruits are yellow-orange when ripe. Flowers are fragrant and white to pink, blooming in autumn to early wintertime.

​Arbutus menziesii (Pacific Madrone, Madrona)
Native to British Columbia down to Southern California along the Coast Ranges. These trees can reach between 20-100 feet tall and have smooth, reddish-brown peeling bark. Leaves are shiny dark green on top, gray-green underneath. White to pink bell-shaped flowers appear  in spring. Blooms are followed in fall by clusters of orange to red fruits that last through winter if not eaten by birds. Grows best in zones 4-7 and 14-19.​

Arbutus occidentalis (Mexican Madrone)
This small shrub species is endemic to Mexico, where it grows on rocky slopes towards the western side of the country. Berries are red and flowers are pink to white. These low-growers top out between 1 and 4 feet tall, and spread to form colonies more than 6 feet wide. 

Arbutus unedo (Strawberry Tree, Chorleywood, Irish Strawberry Tree)
Grows in zones 4-24, damaged by frost in zones 4-7. Native to southern Europe and Ireland. This species thrives in a wide variety of conditions. Great as a lawn tree; attracts birds to gardens. Trunk and branches have deep reddish brown peeling bark. Leaves are dark green, and white/greenish yellow flowers appear in fall along with fruits that are edible, though not very appetizing. Varieties are outlined below.
'Elfin King'
Dwarf form (5 feet tall) that flowers and fruits continuously.
'Compacta'
Grows to just 10 feet tall; a perfect shrub for smaller gardens.
'Oktoberfest'
6-8 feet tall, deep pink flowers.
Arbutus unedo rubra
With deep pink blooms that have yellow mouths.

Arbutus xalapensis (Texas Madrone, Amazaquitl, Texas Madrono)
This species forms a shrub or small tree, and at maturity is between 17 and 84 feet tall. Bark is orange-brown and peeling, and flowers are white to pale pink.

Caring for and pruning arbutus Trees

Plant your Strawberry Tree in full sun to partial shade. These plants grow best in locations that will receive about 6 hours of sunlight each day. In warmer climates, afternoon shade can protect these plants from getting sunburn and heat stress symptoms. Ensure that soil is well-draining before planting, and has a neutral to acidic soil pH of between 5.5 and 7.0. Although these trees and shrubs can tolerate a wide range of soil textures and types, they do prefer sandy, rocky, or loamy soils. Ensure that soil does not become waterlogged, as this will cause problems with fungal disease and stress the plant out. If soil is heavy and clayey, amend before planting with plenty of organic material to improve drainage and structure. After installation, apply a thick layer of mulch around the base of the plant to increase soil moisture retention and suppress weed growth. Water newly installed Arbutus regularly to help establish a strong root system. Once established in the landscape, these plants are drought-tolerant and can get by with just occasional deep waterings during dry periods. Allow soil to dry out between waterings.

Fertilizing Arbutus shrubs and trees is not always necessary, unless they are planted in particularly nutrient-poor soil. If the plant seems to be struggling during the growing season, a balanced fertilizer can be applied in early springtime to support the season's growth. Use a fertilizer formulated for acid-loving plants that is a slow-release type to provide nutrients gradually and not burn the roots. Pruning Arbutus is simple, and requires removing dead, damaged, diseased, or crossing branches. Prunings are best done in late winter or early spring, before new growth pushes out for the year. These plants can suffer in the cooler winter temperatures of some climates, and newly planted or young trees especially should be protected from freezing temperatures. Mulching around the bases of plants as well as using frost cloth or burlap to cover the crown are good techniques for protection during cold snaps.

Harvesting Arbutus Fruits
Take care when consuming the fruits from these plants; too many ingested can cause a narcotic intoxication, thought to originate from the fermentation of sugars under the fruits' skin.
Many Arbutus species produce edible fruits that are commonly eaten when bright red. They have a mild, sweet flavor, and can contain up to 40% sugar when ripe. Fruits can be eaten fresh, and must be collected carefully for storage and transportation due to their tendency to bruise and get mushy with too much jostling. Skin on the fruits is rough, and is not commonly consumed. The interior flesh is creamy. The best time to harvest the fruits from Arbutus is when the first red fruits begin to fall from the tree in late fall (November is a good harvest month). Ripe fruit will be red to orange, depending on the species being harvested, and be slightly squishy to the touch. Harvesting can be done by hand by gently twisting the fruit from its attachment, or the tree can be shaken with a cloth underneath for a quicker process.
Arbutus fruits can be eaten fresh, but they are more often used in preserves, as flavorings for liquors and vinegars, or added to baked goods, smoothies, and ice creams. These fruits unfortunately don't taste as good as they look, but are still useful as additions to recipes. A great way to prepare the fruit for addition to most recipes is to boil the fruits and then process them. Place the fruits in a pot filled with cold water, and bring to a boil. Then, drain the water and fruit through a sieve and smash fruits through the sieve to remove flesh and juice, leaving the seeds and unpalatable skin behind. The puree that is left over can be added to smoothies and ice creams, turned into jams or jellies, or even processed further for adding to cooking oils, syrups, and liquors. The following recipes are great for trying out this interesting, little-known fruit:

Propagation

Arbutus trees and sjrubs can be propagated either by using cuttings or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the cutting method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant. To propagate your plant, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Arbutus by Cutting
  1. Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand.
  2. In late summer or early autumn, choose the plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that this plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances your cutting will take root. Cut one or more 6-10 inch semi-hardwood portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch and strip the leaves off of the lower half. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot. Fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much.
  3. Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. Your pot should be kept in warm, sunny conditions indoors (and not in direct sunlight). Water whenever your soil is dry under the top layer. After a few months have passed, your cutting should be rooted. When you notice new growth, you'll know you have roots. 
  4. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring, when you can transplant it to its new home. Ensure that the last frost of the year has occurred before doing this, as it can seriously damage your new shrub.

Propagating Arbutus by Seed
  1. Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand. You will also, after a few weeks, need individual 3-inch pots for each seedling that grows. 
  2. Harvest your seeds in early wintertime. The seeds of Arbutus plants are contained inside of the berries produced. Pick the berries off of the plant and place in a paper bag. There are about five seeds contained inside of each Arbutus fruit and the seeds have a relatively high germination rate (between 82 and 99 percent). Once you've finished collecting fruit from the plant, bring your bag inside and place the fruit in a bowl of water. Leave the fruit to soak in warm water for between 24 and 50 hours to remove the seeds from the pulp. A sieve can also be used to remove the seeds. Once the seeds are free from the fruit flesh, lay them out to dry.
  3. Arbutus seeds will need a period of cold stratification for best germination results. Place your seeds in a sealable bag filled with moist sand or peat moss, and place in the refrigerator for between 60 and 90 days. Remove the seeds afterwards and lay them out to work with them.
  4. Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light and stays at a temperature of between 65 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 2-3 months from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
  5. Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.
Arbutus seeds are contained inside of the bright berries produced by the trees and shrubs.
Arbutus seeds are very small, and are commonly dark brown.

Problems and Pests

Arbutus trees and shrubs can suffer from the following ailments:
  • Leaf Spot​
  • Root Rot
  • Cankers
  • Wood Decay
  • Leafminers
  • Webworms
  • Tent Caterpillars
For more information on these issues, including how to eradicate them, see the following links:
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Gallery

Arbutus shrubs and trees are unique in that the previous season's fruit ripens on the tree as the current seasons' flowers are opening.
Aguardente de Medronho is a liquor similar to a light brandy that is made in Portugal and the surrounding region from Arbutus fruits.
Strawberry Trees are great for planting near benches, where garden visitors can look up into their intricate canopies.
Strawberry Trees make quite a statement in the landscape.
Plant your Strawberry Tree in a protected location, such as against the wall of a home.
These trees can make great additions to Mediterranean-style gardens.

Videos

Learn about Arbutus Marina, a great cultivar to grow.
Learn to identify these trees.
How to make a juice from these tasty fruits.
Explore the Arbutus genus.
Learn all about Arbutus marina.
How and why to add a Strawberry Tree to your food forest.

Resources

How to Grow and Care for A Strawberry Tree
Expert Trips for Growing a Strawberry Tree
How to Grow and Care for the Strawberry Tree
Strawberry Tree Fruit: What is It and How to Cook with It?
Arbutus: Strawberry Tree
Wikipedia: Arbutus
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Pages 163 - 164, Arbutus
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