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Buy Arbutus unedo (Strawberry-tree) online from Jacksons Nurseries.

Arbutus Unedo

Strawberry Tree

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£11.99

Size:

2-3 Litre pot

Code: 2066

Availability: 10 item(s)

Quantity:

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At a Glance

Variety: Arbutus
Size: 2-3 Litre pot
Mature Height (?):

What does this mean?

Mature Height

You can expect the height to reach somewhere within this estimate. It is given as a guide but can vary dependant on several factors such as soil quality and position.

For Conifers and Trees this may be the height in 10-20 years, eventually the plant may exceed this height.

6.0m
Mature Spread (?):

What does this mean?

Mature Spread

You can expect the plant to spread somewhere within this range estimate. It is given as a guide but can vary dependant on several factors such as soil quality and position.

For Conifers and Trees this may be the spread in 10-20 years, eventually the plant may exceed this.

5.0m
Flower Colour (?):

What does this mean?

Flower Colour

Flowers come in a vast variety of colours from pure white to almost black. Colour can be affected by a number of factors including environment and diet. Use the photographs as a guide and expect variations.

white
Flowering Time (?):

What does this mean?

Flowering Time

A plants development is synchronised with the changing seasons and flowering is one of several changes that occur at the appropriate time of year dependent on the specific plant. While our meteorological seasons are defined by specific dates; there can be two or the weeks difference in the start and end of the horticultural 'season' between the north and south of the UK.

Autumn
Foliage (?):

What does this mean?

Evergreen

Plants that have leaves all year round are classified as evergreen. They can however lose leaves sporadically throughout the year.

Deciduous

Deciduous plants drop their leaves in autumn, look bare in winter and put out new leaves again in spring. Some plants such a Beech retain their dead leaves until the new spring growth.

Semi-evergreen

There are exceptions, some plant drop their leaves in cold winters but keep them if it is mild. These are classified as Semi-evergreen.

Evergreen
Fragrant (?):

What does this mean?
Fragrant
For plants that are fragrant the level of fragrance may vary, results may improve by planting in larger blocks. The fragrance may come from flowers or foliage.

No
Growth Rate (?):

What does this mean?

Growth rate of a plant will determine how fast the plant reaches it ultimate height and is affected by four main factors: temperature, nutrients, light, and water.

Slow
Hardiness (?):

What does this mean?

Fully Hardy

Hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (to -15)

Half Hardy

Hardy throughout most of the UK (to -10)

Frost Hardy

Hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of UK (to -5)

Fully Hardy
Position (?):

What does this mean?

Full Sun

Six or more full hours of direct sunlight but don't forget to water.

Partial Shade

Two or three hours either in early morning or late evening sun. Very limited exposure to midday sun.

Dense Shade

Usually no more than two hours direct sunlight. Usually under dense trees, shurbs or in shade cast by buildings/fences etc.

Full sun, Partial shade
Soil Moisture (?):

What does this mean?

Well Drained

Well-drained soil allows water to percolate through reasonably quickly without pooling. Well drained soil can often be dry and lack nutrients.

Poorly Drained

Poorly Drained soil is usually saturated periodically during the growing season and remains wet for several days at a time. Saturated soil can deprive roots of oxygen.

Moist Well Drained

A moist well drained soil is the best of both worlds by combining high permeability with the ability to retain moisture. Adding well rotted organic matter to dry or wet soil will help improve both these characteristics.

Moist Well-drained, Well-drained
Soil PH (?):

What does this mean?

Acid

Soil with a pH between 1 and 7 is classed as acid, ericaceous plants such as Rhododendrons need acid soil.

Neutral

A neutral pH which is around 7, will be suitable for most plants. Clay soils tend to be neutral.

Alkaline

Soil with a pH between 7 and 14 are refereed to as Alkaline. Chalky soil is usually Alkaline.

Acid, Neutral
Soil Type (?):

What does this mean?

Chalk

Chalky or lime-rich soils may be light or heavy, largely made up of calcium carbonate and are very alkaline.

Clay

Clay soils are potentially fertile and hold a high proportion of water. They drain slowly and take longer to warm up in spring.

Loam

Loam soils are s mixture of clay, sand and silt that avoid the extremes of clay or sandy soils. Fertile, well-drained and easily worked.

Sand

Sandy soils have a low clay content, drain quickly, easy to cultivate and work. They can dry out quickly and are low in plant nutrients. Often very acidic.

Clay, Loam, Sand

Arbutus Unedo

Strawberry Tree - Killarney Strawberry Tree

Overview

The Strawberry Tree is a remarkable evergreen shrub or small tree that brings year-round interest and Mediterranean charm to British gardens. This hardy native produces distinctive red, strawberry-like fruits that are edible but rather bland. What makes this plant truly special is its unique ability to flower and fruit simultaneously in autumn, creating a spectacular display of white bell-shaped flowers alongside bright red berries. It's an excellent choice for gardeners seeking an unusual, low-maintenance specimen that thrives in challenging conditions.

Key Features

Mature Size: 4-8m height × 3-5m spread (can be kept smaller with pruning)
Growth Rate: Slow to moderate
Hardiness: Fully hardy (RHS H5) - tolerates temperatures down to -15°C
Flowering Period: October to December
Fruiting Period: October to December (fruits take 12 months to ripen)
Foliage: Evergreen, glossy dark green serrated leaves
Flower Colour: Creamy white, urn-shaped clusters
Fruit Colour: Bright red, strawberry-like texture

Plant Description

This attractive evergreen forms a dense, rounded crown with distinctive reddish-brown bark that peels and flakes with age, revealing smooth patches underneath. The oval leaves are glossy dark green with serrated edges, providing excellent year-round structure. The most remarkable feature occurs in autumn when clusters of small, cream-coloured, bell-shaped flowers appear alongside the ripening red fruits from the previous year's blooms. The fruits are roughly 2cm in diameter with a bumpy, strawberry-like surface texture, though they're botanically berries rather than true strawberries.

Growing Conditions

Soil Requirements: Extremely adaptable to soil types, thriving in both acidic and alkaline conditions. Prefers well-draining soil but tolerates clay, sand, and even poor, rocky soils. Excellent drought tolerance once established.

Light Preferences: Performs best in full sun to light partial shade. More flowers and fruits are produced in sunnier positions.

Moisture Needs: Drought-tolerant when established, making it ideal for dry gardens. Requires regular watering only during the first two years after planting.

Climate Tolerance: Fully hardy across most of the UK. Particularly suitable for coastal gardens as it tolerates salt spray and strong winds exceptionally well.

Planting Guide

Best Planting Time: Potted plants can be planted at any time of the year providing the ground is not frozen or waterlogged and its not excessively windy.

Spacing: Allow 4-6m between plants for specimens, 2-3m for informal hedging

Planting Depth: Plant at the same level as it was growing in the container

Soil Preparation: Minimal soil preparation required due to adaptability, though incorporating compost improves establishment

Care and Maintenance

Watering: Water regularly during the first two growing seasons to establish a deep root system. Once established, additional watering is rarely needed except during prolonged drought.

Feeding: Generally unnecessary as the plant thrives in poor soils. If desired, apply a balanced general fertiliser in early spring on very poor soils.

Pruning: Minimal pruning required due to naturally attractive shape. Remove any dead, damaged, or crossing branches in late winter. Can be pruned harder to maintain size or create formal shapes, though this may reduce flowering and fruiting.

Mulching: Apply mulch around young plants to suppress weeds and retain moisture during establishment. Mature plants rarely require mulching.

Garden Uses

Specimen Planting: Excellent focal point for lawns or prominent garden positions

Coastal Gardens: Outstanding choice for seaside locations due to salt and wind tolerance

Mediterranean Gardens: Perfect for dry, gravel gardens and Mediterranean-style plantings

Wildlife Gardens: Provides nectar for late-season pollinators and berries for birds

Screening: Can be used for informal hedging or screening when planted in groups

Container Growing: Young plants suitable for large containers, though eventual size limits long-term container culture

Seasonal Interest

Spring: Fresh new growth and attractive bark become prominent

Summer: Dense green foliage provides excellent backdrop and structure

Autumn: Spectacular simultaneous display of white flowers and bright red berries

Winter: Evergreen foliage and interesting bark maintain garden interest

Wildlife Value

The autumn flowers provide crucial late-season nectar for bees, butterflies, and other pollinators when few other sources remain available. The berries are eaten by various bird species, particularly thrushes and blackbirds. The dense evergreen canopy offers year-round shelter and nesting sites for birds.

Fruit and Edibility

Whilst the fruits are technically edible, they're rather insipid with a mealy texture and are primarily valued for ornamental purposes. They can be used to make preserves or alcoholic beverages in Mediterranean countries, but most British gardeners grow the plant purely for its decorative qualities.

Cultural Significance

The Strawberry Tree holds special significance as it's one of Ireland's few native trees, giving it the alternative name "Irish Strawberry Tree." It features on the coat of arms of Madrid, Spain, where it's also highly valued.

Summary

This exceptional plant rewards patience with decades of low-maintenance beauty, making it an outstanding investment for gardeners seeking something truly distinctive that thrives in challenging conditions whilst providing year-round interest.

Shrub Notes
Shrubs Guide & Care
Alternatives
Reviews

Buying Shrubs from Jacksons Nurseries

At Jacksons Nurseries we sell a variety of shrubs both evergreen and deciduous with a variety of flowering times throughout the year. At certain times of the year our shrubs you buy from us may not look like the images shown on our website when deciduous leaves have fallen, the shrub has finished flowering or has been trimmed back.

Some leaves on evergreen shrubs can be damaged in winter by frost or harsh winds but in spring new leaves will readily replace those damaged. This is quite normal on many evergreen varieties and is preferable to plants grown with excessive protection that show cold shock once planted out and establish less satisfactory initially.

Availability: Stock availability figures are provided as a guide only. There is a delay between orders being placed and the plants being gathered by our pulling team. During this time it may be possible for a member of the public to purchase these plants from our Garden Centre, while this is rare it is a possibility and we will notify you of any problems as soon as possible. This figure may also include plants that have not yet be flagged as unsaleable.

Pre-order: Pre-order times are given as a guide only and may vary dependent on the growing season. Orders containing Pre-ordered products will be shipped as a single order when all items become available. Large orders may be part shipped, please contact us on 01782 502741 or email sales@jacksonsnurseries.co.uk.

* Please Note: Shrubs in 20 litre pots and above might require a pallet delivery starting at £79.99 per pallet. Depending on the exact pot size and height it may be possible to get approximately 5 plants per pallet at no extra cost. The maximum height we can dispatch on a pallet is 2.0m, this includes the height of the pallet and pot.

Shrubs are deciduous or evergreen woody plants, and often provide fragrant flowers, berries and foliage. They are good for structural framework, and they can provide a wonderful shelter and food source for wildlife.

Planting and Conditions

Container grown shrubs can be grown at any time of year. It is a little known fact that shrubs planted in the autumn and winter will be easier to look after than those planted in the spring and summer, because they will have time to establish and become hardy in the cooler months.

Plant the shrub at the same depth as it was in its original pot. Planting too deeply can result in root and stem rot.

One of the biggest causes of death in new shrubs is drought stress, so keep it well watered until it’s established.

Make sure you loosen the soil prior to planting. Most shrubs are tolerant of most soil types as long as it is fairly well draining.

Most shrubs will grow happily in containers, but they will be much more demanding on feeding and watering than shrubs in the ground would be. They will also need potting on every couple of years so that they don’t suffocate or become stunted in their pot.

Aftercare and Pruning

Once established, shrubs generally do not require much water. However, at first they need careful, frequent watering and should not be left to dry out.

Shrubs in the ground are generally not demanding and in most cases, annual feeding with general purpose fertilizer will suffice. Shrubs in containers may need more feeding; usually from early spring until late summer.

Shrubs also benefit from mulching in order to supress weeds, conserve moisture and provide vital nutrients. Mulch also greatly improves soil conditions. Shrubs can be mulched in late winter, after fertiliser has been applied, but it can be mulched through autumn to late spring as long as the ground is damp.

All shrubs benefit from dead-heading once spent flowers become apparent. Rhododendrons and Lilac especially benefit from the removal of dead flowers.

Some shrubs may show signs of reverted growth or ‘sporting’. This is where random shoots of different leaves associated with the plant’s parentage begin to appear. Most commonly this is where plants with variegated leaves sprout pure green growths instead of variegated ones.

To control reversion, remove reverted shoots promptly to discourage them. Reverted shoots are usually much more vigorous than the variegated ones, and thus should be completely pruned out and cut back into wood containing variegated foliage.

Potential Issues

Although shrubs are usually very robust garden plants, they can sometimes start to decline with no apparent or obvious reason.

This will start with browning leaves, which could indicate plant stress due to lack of water or waterlogging, an establishment failure or, in the worst case scenario, honey fungus. Another cause of leaf browning is a high salt content in the soil. This could be a natural occurrence, especially if you live near the ocean, or it could be from over fertilisation.

To remedy a high salt content, cut back on fertiliser and step up your watering regime for the next few weeks. If you live by the ocean, this will be harder to remedy—but stepping up your watering will help to wash some of the salt away all the same.