Arbutus unedo L.

Shrub or small tree with fissured bark (to c. 10 m high in cultivation). Young shoots glandular-hairy. Lvs glabrous, with very short petioles. Lamina 4.5-9 × 2-3.5 cm, a little larger on vegetative shoots, elliptic to obovate, crenate-serrate to serrate, sometimes almost entire on flowering shoots; base cuneate; apex usually obtuse. Panicle usually 4-6 cm long; peduncles and pedicels glabrous or puberulent. Bracts ovate to lanceolate, conspicuous and often tinged reddish, < or > pedicels. Calyx 2-3 mm long, often reddish; lobes broad, ciliate, obtuse. Corolla tube 7-8 mm long, white or pinkish, hairy towards apex; lobes broad, c. 1 mm long. Filaments villous; anther awns aristate, curved. Style shortly exserted. Fr. 1.5-2 cm diam., globose, orange-red or scarlet, with conic papillae giving a warty appearance.

It is a temperate plant. It is native to Ireland. They need full sun and fertile well-drained soil. It can tolerate reasonable frosts. It can tolerate salt laden winds but not very cold winds. They do not do well on alkaline soils. It suits hardiness zones 7-10. Tasmania Herbarium. Arboretum Tasmania.

The fruit are usually not eaten raw because they have little taste. They are used for drinks, sweets and other dishes. They can be used for jam.

Plants are grown from seed. Seed are sown fresh. They can also be grown from semi-ripe cuttings. Seedlings need protection until established.