Arbutus or the strawberry tree

Family Ericaceae. a genus of evergreen trees and shrubs of the family Ericaceae. It includes over 20 species. They are distributed in Western Europe, the Mediterranean, North and Central America, and Western Asia.

Small evergreen trees with smooth coral-red or fissured brown bark, reaching 5 meters in height at 50 years of age. Leaves alternate, leathery, entire or toothed, borne on petioles. Flowers are relatively small, grouped in terminal pendulous or erect panicles. Calyx 5-lobed, persistent in fruit. Corolla sympetalous, somewhat inflated with 5 teeth turned outward, white or pink, falling immediately after flowering; stamens 10.

The genus Arbutus received its name because of the distinctive shape of the fruits: red-pink little balls resembling very large strawberries. In the large-fruited strawberry tree the fruits are edible. The fruits are juicy and tasty; they are eaten fresh and used to make jam. This famous tree is revered in Madrid: the symbol of the city is a bear eating the fruits of the strawberry tree. The large-fruited strawberry tree is part of the shrub thickets of the coastal areas of the Mediterranean — the so-called maquis (maquis, as the French call them). Thus the strawberry tree also has a proud combat history: it served as shelter and refuge for French partisans who "went into the maquis."

Another species of Arbutus is the small-fruited, or red, Arbutus andrachne. It can be found in Crimea, where it is known by the names "kurortnitsa" and "besstydnitsa" — because the tree is capable of "shedding its skin." The fruits of the small-fruited Arbutus are edible but not particularly tasty; they are suitable for culinary processing.

Indoor cultivation.

Under glass, the large-fruited strawberry tree is grown. This is a highly decorative indoor evergreen plant. Leaves are bright green, ovate; inflorescences are cream-colored, resembling lily-of-the-valley. After flowering the tree is adorned with bright orange edible but tasteless fruits. Often flowers and berries decorate the tree at the same time. It is propagated by seeds; seeds are sown on the surface of the soil at a temperature of 20–25 °C, not buried under glass. Seedlings are misted rather than watered. It blooms not earlier than after 12 months and grows slowly. In November it begins to shed its leaves. During this period watering should be limited and a temperature of 12–14 °C maintained. After 3 months it is moved to a warmer room; when new foliage unfolds, watering is increased.