Strawberry Tree
Arbutus unedo
- Native to:
- Albania, Algeria, Baleares, Bulgaria, Corse, Cyprus, East Aegean Is., France, Greece, Italy, Kriti, Lebanon-Syria, Morocco, NW. Balkan Pen., Portugal, Sicilia, Spain, Tunisia, Türkiye, Türkiye-in-Europe
Nzfauna
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Ericaceae
- Genus:
- Arbutus
- Species:
- Arbutus unedo
- USDA Symbol:
- ARUN4
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Shrub , Tree
- Height:
- 900 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- oct,nov,dec
- Bloom Colors:
- white, pink
- Evergreen Shrub:
- Yes
- Landscaping Shrub:
- Yes
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
- Caterpillars:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★★★★☆ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Elegant sphinx (Sphinx perelegans), Walter's saturnia moth (Saturnia walterorum)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Bees: ⚠️Western honey bee (Apis mellifera), Yellow-faced bumble (Bombus vosnesenskii) Hummingbirds: Anna's Hummingbird (Calypte anna), Selasphorus Swainson Moths:Etainia Beirne Butterflies:⚠️Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, bees, butterflies
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Salt Tolerant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts vigorously from root crown and trunk after fire. Common in fire-prone Mediterranean maquis ecosystems with thick bark providing protection.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- well-drained, sandy or loamy soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- native to Mediterranean regions with poor, rocky soils
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
- Germination Time:
- 30–90 days
- Notes:
- Seeds germinate slowly and erratically. Fresh seed germinates better than stored seed. Light may enhance germination.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI