Trees · Ericaceae
Strawberry tree
Arbutus unedo
Spanish MadroñoCatalan ArboçNative3–8 mEvergreen
Round, knobbly fruits, red like strawberries, alongside the flowers in autumn.
- LeafBroad and flat
- LeafYes, a single blade
- ShapeSpear-shaped
- ShapeOval
- EdgeToothed
- On the twigOne at a time, staggered
- In winterYes, always green
- BarkFlaking in plates
- FruitFleshy
The leaf
The leaf is elongated, thick and glossy, dark green, with a finely toothed edge. The stalk is often reddish.
The bark
The bark is reddish-brown and peels off in thin strips and flakes. Young branches are reddish.
The fruit
The fruits are balls one to two centimetres across with a skin covered in little bumps. They go from yellow to orange and, when ripe, are deep red. The flesh is mealy and sweet, and edible.
The flower
It flowers in autumn. The flowers are white or pinkish, shaped like little bells, and hang in clusters.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Habit
It is usually a large shrub or small tree with a dense, rounded crown, dark green all year round.
Where it grows
It grows in holm oak woods and scrubland, mainly on lime-free soils. In Catalonia it is common in the coastal and pre-coastal ranges, such as Collserola, the Montnegre and the Gavarres.
What it can be mistaken for
The bay laurel has a similar leaf, but it is smooth-edged and very aromatic when crushed. The holly has glossy prickly leaves and smooth red berries. The holm oak has leaves that are grey underneath and bears acorns.
A story
The fruit takes almost a year to ripen, so in autumn the tree carries new flowers and red fruits at the same time. The strawberry tree appears on the coat of arms of Madrid and, in the Baix Penedès, the village of L'Arboç takes its name from arboç, the tree's Catalan name.
Find out more
- Tree: Calistemon, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Leaf: Robert Flogaus-Faust, CC BY 4.0
- Bark: Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Fruit: Basotxerri, CC BY-SA 4.0