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The Strawberry Tree: How to Plant and Grow this Fruit Bearing, Ornamental Tree

© Connie Krochmal

The Strawberry Tree, also known as Killarney strawberry tree, is an outstanding ornamental tree.

This charming, historical broadleaf evergreen brings four seasons of beauty to the landscape with its picturesque, twisted trunk and branches.

Appearance of Trees, Flowers, and Fruit

In its native regions of southwest Ireland, southern Europe, western, Asia and northern Africa, these slow growing plants reach about 20 feet tall with an equal spread. Elsewhere, they're usually about 8 to 12 feet high and wide.

The alternate, evergreen foliage resembles that of the laurel. It can be rounded to oval, 2 to 4 inches long. Its leaves tend to be leathery and toothed, glossy dark to medium green, with red leaf stalks.

This self-fertilizing plant blooms abundantly throughout the fall and winter months. The urn-shaped blossoms are white to cream. These are borne in small, arching, two-inch-long terminal clusters. When exposed to full sun, the blooms can turn pinkish.

The amber-fleshed fruits faintly resemble strawberries. Initially white, they ripen to yellow, orange, and finally orange-red. About ½ to ¾ inch in diameter, they may be flat or globular. Generally, harvest is from September through November. Flowers and fruits may be present at the same time, for fruits require about a year to mature.

The fruits are prepared as jams, jellies, syrups, candied fruit, distilled and fermented drinks, such as wines and liqueurs.

Planting and Growing Strawberry Trees

In the landscape, the strawberry tree has many uses. This species can be used for woodland gardens and shrub borders. It can be trained as a single trunk tree or multi-stemmed shrub. It is often used as an informal hedge or screen, but avoid pruning them into formal hedges.

The strawberry tree is also used as a specimen tree. It is perfect for small spaces and can be grown in containers. For this purpose, compact, lower growing cultivars are sometimes selected. It is fire-resistant and is used for dune restoration, erosion control, and reforestation.

The strawberry tree is easy to grow. Buy container plants if possible, for it dislikes being transplanted. They need no special fertilization. Once established, they are drought tolerant, salt tolerant, and have few insect or disease problems.

Strawberry trees are best suited to USDA zones 8 through 10, as the foliage is damaged by severe frost. They prefer full sun, in most cases - in desert areas, partial shade is best. They thrive where summers are mild and dry, but can be grown successfully in hot, dry areas. Though it prefers a pH of 5 to 6, it will tolerate slightly acidic to alkaline conditions. A well-drained, moist soil is best.