Strawberry Tree Arbutus unedo 'Elfin King'
ABOUT
The Arbutus unedo 'Elfin King', commonly known as the Strawberry Tree, is an ornamental plant notable for its year-round appeal. It boasts evergreen foliage, with leaves that are dark green, glossy, and leathery in texture. These leaves are oblong-shaped with serrated edges, offering a robust and lush visual. Among its most striking features are the flowers and fruits it produces. The plant blossoms with small, bell-shaped white or pale pink flowers that hang in clusters. These blooms provide a delicate and aromatic allure to the bush. Following the flowers, the Strawberry Tree forms rounded, knobby fruits that transition in color from yellow to orange, and finally to a bright red hue as they mature. The fruits' textured surface resembles that of a strawberry, hence the plant's common name. The combination of its flowers and fruits often leads to a charming overlap of blooms and berries coexisting on the plant, as it has the rare attribute of carrying both at the same time during the fall season. This simultaneous display adds to the plant's decorative appeal, making it a favorite choice for both visual interest and wildlife attraction in gardens.
About this plant
NamesFamily
Ericaceae.
Synonyms
Strawberry Tree, Irish Strawberry Tree, Cane Apple.
Common names
Arbutus unedo 'Elfin King'.
CharacteristicsLife cycle
Perennials
Foliage type
Evergreen
Color of leaves
Green
Flower color
White
Height
5-6 feet (1.52-1.83 meters)
Spread
5-6 feet (1.52-1.83 meters)
Plant type
Shrub
Hardiness zones
7-10
Native area
Mediterranean
Benefits
General Benefits- Year-round visual interest: The Strawberry tree provides flowers, fruits, and evergreen foliage throughout different seasons, offering continuous visual appeal in the garden.
- Drought tolerance: Once established, it is quite drought-resistant, making it suitable for xeriscaping and water-wise gardens.
- Attracts wildlife: Its flowers attract bees and other pollinators, while the fruit provides food for birds, contributing to local biodiversity.
- Low maintenance: As a slow-growing plant, it requires minimal pruning and is relatively easy to care for, suitable for both novice and experienced gardeners.
- Ornamental fruit: The tree produces strawberry-like fruits that add a decorative element to the plant, though they are edible, they are not as flavorful as real strawberries.
- Urban tolerant: With its ability to withstand urban pollution, it is an excellent choice for city landscapes and roadside plantings.
- Adaptable to soil types: The Strawberry tree can grow in a range of soil types, including poor soils, provided they have good drainage.
- Coastal suitability: It is tolerant of salt spray, making it appropriate for coastal gardens and landscapes.
Medical PropertiesThis plant is not used for medical purposes.
Air-purifying QualitiesThis plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses- Wildlife Habitat: The dense foliage of Arbutus unedo 'Elfin King' can provide shelter and nesting sites for birds and small mammals.
- Bonsai Specimen: Due to its slow growth and attractive features, it can be trained as a bonsai plant for indoor or outdoor display.
- Educational Tool: The plant can be used in educational settings to teach about pollination, as it is attractive to bees and other pollinators.
- Craft Material: The bark and berries can be used in crafting, for example, the bark for textural elements in art projects, and the berries for dyes.
- Windbreak: In coastal areas, the plant can serve as a windbreak due to its resistance to wind and salt spray.
- Photography Backdrop: Garden photographers may use the plant’s striking flowers and berries as a photogenic backdrop or subject.
- Culinary Use: The fruit is edible and can be used in making jams, jellies, or even fermented to produce alcoholic beverages.
- Soil Erosion Control: Its root system can help to stabilize soil on slopes and prevent erosion.
- Privacy Screening: When planted in a hedgerow, the shrub can provide privacy screening for gardens and outdoor spaces.
- Sensory Garden Addition: The plant can be included in sensory gardens due to its tactile bark, fragrant flowers, and edible fruits which provide a multi-sensory experience.
Interesting Facts
Feng ShuiThe Strawberry Tree is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign CompitabilityThe Strawberry Tree is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism- Resilience: The Strawberry Tree, often thriving in poor soil and rough conditions, symbolizes the ability to persevere and flourish despite challenges.
- Longevity: With its capacity to live for hundreds of years, the Strawberry Tree represents endurance and the passage of time.
- Protection: In some cultures, the Strawberry Tree is thought to ward off evil, providing a symbol of safeguarding and security.
- Prosperity: Its fruit, which takes a full year to mature, can symbolize patience and the eventual achievement of success and wealth.
- Peace: The evergreen nature of the Strawberry Tree, which keeps its leaves throughout seasons, can be a symbol of tranquility and constancy.
WaterFor the Strawberry Tree, water it deeply to ensure the root zone is moist, then allow the topsoil to dry out somewhat before watering again. It typically requires watering once a week, but this frequency should be adjusted according to climate, season, and weather conditions. In hotter, drier periods, watering frequency should increase, and in cooler, wetter months, it should decrease. The plant generally needs about 1 to 1.5 gallons of water each time, ensuring that the water penetrates well into the soil without leaving the plant waterlogged.
LightThe Strawberry Tree thrives in full sun to partial shade conditions. The ideal location is where the plant can receive at least six hours of direct sunlight daily, but it can also tolerate dappled shade, particularly in hotter climates. Avoid deep shade, as it may hamper fruit production and lead to a less dense foliage.
TemperatureThe Strawberry Tree prefers moderate temperatures and can survive in temperatures as low as 20 degrees Fahrenheit, but it is best grown in zones where temperatures do not typically drop below freezing. The ideal temperature range for the plant is between 60 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit, though it can tolerate higher temperatures if it is well-watered.
PruningPrune the Strawberry Tree to maintain shape and remove any dead or broken branches. It should be pruned in late winter or early spring before the new growth starts. Pruning can be carried out annually, but the tree will also tolerate less frequent pruning if desired. Removing some of the older wood can encourage more vigorous growth and fruiting.
CleaningAs needed
SoilStrawberry tree (Arbutus unedo 'Elfin King') thrives best in well-drained soil that is loamy or sandy with some richness in organic matter. A mix with equal parts garden soil, sand, and peat or compost provides a supportive environment for root development. This cultivar prefers a slightly acidic to neutral pH, ranging between 6.0 and 7.5.
RepottingStrawberry trees do not require frequent repotting. They can be repotted every 2 to 3 years or when the roots fill the current container. The Strawberry tree 'Elfin King' can be repotted in the spring before new growth, or in the autumn after fruiting.
Humidity & MistingStrawberry tree 'Elfin King' is adaptable to a range of humidity levels but prefers moderate conditions. It does well in average outdoor humidity, so no special humidity adjustments are usually necessary.
Suitable locationsIndoor
Ensure bright light, well-draining soil, and do not overwater.
Outdoor
Choose sunny spot, protect from strong winds, and well-drained soil.
Hardiness zone
7-10 USDA
Life cycleThe Strawberry Tree 'Elfin King' begins its life as a dormant seed, which germinates in favorable conditions – moist, well-drained soil and partial to full sun exposure. The seedling stage follows, where the plant emerges with initial leaves and begins to establish a root system. As a young plant, it enters the vegetative stage, growing in size and developing a branching structure while producing evergreen foliage. During maturity, the Strawberry Tree 'Elfin King' starts to produce small, white-pinkish hermaphrodite flowers usually in the fall, which are followed by the development of red, berry-like fruits that resemble strawberries. These fruits mature over time, typically taking about 12 months to ripen, attracting birds and other wildlife, which aid in seed dispersal. Following fruiting, the plant continues its cycle annually, producing flowers and fruits each year while it grows and ages.
PropogationPropogation time
Spring to early summer
The Strawberry tree 'Elfin King' is commonly propagated by seed or semi-hardwood cuttings. The most popular method is to take semi-hardwood cuttings in late summer. To do this, select a healthy, non-flowering shoot and cut a 4 to 6-inch (approximately 10 to 15 cm) piece, ensuring there are several leaf nodes present. Remove the leaves from the lower half of the cutting and dip the cut end in rooting hormone powder to encourage root development. Then, plant the cutting in a well-draining potting mix, ensuring the leaf nodes where the leaves were removed are buried. Cover the pot with a plastic bag or place it in a propagator to maintain high humidity, and keep it in indirect light at a temperature around 70°F (approximately 21°C). Roots typically develop in a few weeks, after which the new plant can be transferred to a larger pot or directly to the garden.
