A Touch of Killarney

The 'Killarney Strawberry Tree' is actually surprisingly lime-tolerant for an ericaceous plant. Arbutus unedo is native to SW Ireland and the Mediterranean regions and was awarded an AGM in 1984 since when it has become rather better known outside of collectors and plantsmen. It is a small tree with an aged and gnarled appearance way before its time, so it can add maturity to a garden where there might not be any; it also copes well with gales in coastal regions so is very useful. It has cinnamon coloured shedding bark and as you can see, the flowers and fruits are produced simultaneously from an early age on grafted plants; Interesting as opposed to beautiful.