The oblong leaves are shiny and dark, 2 to 4 inches long.
Plant new trees in the fall and expect a slow to moderate growth rate for this shrub.
The tree can tolerate a site with some shade.
The Spruce / K. Dave
A strawberry tree can do well despite the presence ofsalt runoff or salt spray.
This strawberry tree can also thrive when planted in urban areas and along streets and highways.
Younger trees may need a stake for support until they become more mature and hardy.
The Spruce / K. Dave
It will thrive if it has six hours of full, direct sun a day.
Soil
Like other ericaceous plants, this tree does best in acidic soil.
It can also tolerate a neutral pH.
The Spruce / K. Dave
You canmake your soil more acidicas needed.
Plan on 1 inch of water each week to equal the number of inches in the trunk’s diameter.
Temperature and Humidity
Strawberry trees are hardy in zones 7 and above and most humidity levels.
The Spruce / K. Dave
However, the tree will not thrive in excessively humid areas.
This will also serve as an organic, slow-release fertilizer.
Its canopy forms a domed or rounded shape.
The Spruce / K. Dave
To avoid confusion, theMuntingia calaburais also called the Jamaican cherry, as well as the strawberry tree.
It grows faster than theArbutus unedo.
The Jamaican cherry tree’s berry tastes like cotton candy.
If you do wish to prune, do so at the end of winter and into early spring.
you might also train the shrub so that it has more of a tree form with a single trunk.
Propagating the Strawberry Tree
Propagation of a strawberry tree is possible through cuttings and layering.
Propagation by Cuttings
The best time to take cuttings from a strawberry tree is in July.
Covers can also protect the younger trees from cold winds.
How Long Does Strawberry Tree Bloom?
Strawberry tree’s blooms last until fruits form one year later.
What Do Strawberry Tree Flowers Look and Smell Like?
Strawberry trees blooms form 2-inch long panicles with clusters of 10 to 30 white or pink, bell-shaped flowers.
The flowers have a mild scent.
However, some people do like to cook the berries and use them in jellies and preserves.
They are also used to make a Portuguese spirit called medronho.
Birds love the berries of Arbutus unedo, and they also enjoy the shelter provided by this dense tree.
