Arbutus Unedo Standard Tree - Standard Strawberry Tree

This Arbutus Unedo is shaped as a Standard or Clear StemTree. Due to its standard shape, it has a long slim trunk and year-round serrated leaves.

Arbutus is a small fruiting evergreen tree. Less easy to find in the UK is the Arbutus Unedo Strawberry Tree grown as a full standard, clear stemmed tree. These mature, beautifully shaped, ornamental trees are between 2 and 4 metres tall with a long, slim trunk circa 12 cm in diameter. An Arbutus full standard Tree is impressive as a standalone focal point or given the shape, its ideal specimen tree for compact spaces and above-fence line screening. 

Arbutus Unedo is native to southern Europe and south west Ireland. It has serrated evergreen leaves, a cinnamon-red trunk and beautifully scented small creamy flowers in autumn through late winter. These flowers mature into strawberry-sized fruits that redden as winter progresses. The fruits are edible and rich in vitamin C, but they are rather bland tasting, so better turned into jams and chutneys or left for blackbirds and thrushes. In Portugal, Arbutus fruits are distilled to make Medronho (fire water), a popular Portuguese spirit with Tequila-like taste and strength.

This is a small to medium-sized standard tree with enough impact to make an impressive statement but it doesn’t grow so large it becomes unmanageable. It’s a great choice for courtyards, above-screen fencing, and mixed borders.

Height and Spread of Arbutus Unedo Standard Tree
A standard strawberry tree is slow growing and reaches around three to four metres tall with a beautifully shaped crown that reaches three to four metres several in width. Its trunk always remains slim at around 12 cm in diameter.

How Hardy is Arbutus Unedo Standard Tree
It’s hardy enough to withstand UK winter if its roots are well-drained, but it does best in a sheltered spot free from harsh drying winds with plenty of sun on it’s foliage.

How To Use Arbutus Unedo Standard Tree
A standard strawberry tree has a clear slim trunk and a freely growing crown, so it’s ideal as bushy evergreen above fence line screening if you don’t want the pleached version.
Because it doesn’t get too large, a standard strawberry tree is a good choice for ornamental focal-point trees in courtyard and city gardens, mixed borders and front gardens. Its scented flowers attract pollinators when there’s little nectar around, and birds enjoy the fruits so it supports the environment too.

It’s also an unusual choice for kitchen gardens because its fruits are edible.

How To Care For Arbutus Unedo Standard Tree
Arbutus unedo standard trees grow best in a sheltered spot with full sun or partial shade. They don’t require pruning, but if you want to reduce its size do in spring. If it’s pruned as the flowers are emerging in autumn, it’ll bear fewer fruits in winter.
Apply a thick layer of well-rotted organic mulch to the base in late spring and water it well until you can see new growth.