The genus of exotic plants Arbutus received the sonorous name of a strawberry tree for the characteristic shape and taste of the fruit, reminiscent of a popular berry. These representatives of heather are not related to strawberries themselves. Arbutus has several tree and shrub species distributed throughout the Mediterranean, southern Europe, Central and North America. The tree was brought to Russia in the 19th century. and took root on the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus and Crimea. Wild species are found in Ireland, Tyrol, Switzerland.
Botanical Description
Strawberry tree does not differ in height, rarely reaching more than 5 m in length. But among the centenarians there are specimens up to 10–12 m. The trunks and branches of the plant are curved, covered with a smooth and thin reddish-brown bark containing the poisonous alkaloid andromedotoxin. Every year, the bark is updated: it cracks and flies around, exposing the wood. This mechanism helps the tree free itself from epiphytic herbs trying to use Arbutus as a food source. Sliding down plates rustle loudly. For the bare branches and the rustle of the discharged bark, the plant is often called a whisperer or shameless.
The leaves of the strawberry tree are shiny dark green, elongated oval in shape with serrated edges and a pointed tip. Regularly located on short cuttings. Unlike bark, strawberry foliage lives for several years, since it is an evergreen tree. The flowers — small white jugs collected in panicle inflorescences of 10–25 pieces — look like lilies of the valley, bloom in May.
Fruit
In summer, drupes are formed from the flowers - round berries from 0.5 to 3 cm in size. Ripening, they become bright red and covered with small tubercles similar to strawberries. Inside, the fruits are divided by partitions into 5 nests, which contain a yellowish pulp with a fruity aroma and small seeds. Freshly picked berries are mealy and slightly bitter, but when reclaimed, they acquire sweetness and become juicier. They hardly remind strawberries, there is a lot of controversy about the taste. Some find them like persimmon pulp, others - like mango or soft pear. There are few lovers of fresh harvest; not everyone likes a specific bitterness. Immature fruits cannot be eaten; their alkaloids can cause sharp stomach cramps and vomiting. But rarely completely succeeds in eating completely ripe berries, as they cause a stupefying condition similar to alcoholic intoxication.
All types of arbutus are good honey carriers. During the flowering period of the trees, the air is filled with a delicate bitter aroma that attracts all the bees nearby. Honey also has a pronounced bitter taste, but is safe for health.
Arbutus prefers fertile nutrient soils, as most heather, well-lit areas of the sun, are insensitive to drought. Strawberry is thermophilic, does not tolerate severe frosty winters and prolonged cold weather, but can withstand a short-term drop in temperature to -10-15 ° C.
The lifespan of trees is several hundred years. Arbutus grow very slowly, reaching a height of 2 m in the first 15 years. In adult strawberries, growth is even slower - 4–7 cm per year.
Common species
In total, there are about 10 species of the genus Arbutus. The most popular ones used in ornamental gardening are a few.
- Arbutus unedo - large-fruited or ordinary. A tree of medium height with a trunk diameter of 30–40 cm and a coral-red bark. In old plants, the surface of the trunks becomes gray, rough and tuberous. The species is distinguished by large juicy berries 3-4 cm in size. In places of growth, fruits are used to make jams and preserves. In vivo occurs in the south of Crimea, in Greece, Italy, Mexico.
- Arbutus andrachne is a small-fruited species. Shrubs and small trees 3-4 m high with smooth bright brown trunks and shoots. Hazelnut-sized fruits collected in a brush. This species is less demanding on soil nutrition, grows on poor sandy soils.
- Arbutus menziesii - Mensis strawberry, the tree does not tolerate cold, freezes at -1–2 ° С, above other species, reaches 20–25 m, leaves are up to 15 cm long and about 8 cm wide, fruits are numerous, about 3 cm in size .
Application
Strawberries have grayish-white wood, very heavy and dense. It is used in turning, carpentry, furniture production, cut out boxes, cases, souvenirs, technical models. In construction, the material is almost never used, as it is subject to severe deformation and swelling.
In Spain, Arbutus is decorated with the coat of arms of Madrid, depicted on the emblems of various state and commercial facilities. From the fruits produce brandy and confectionery.
The leaves and flowers of the tree have antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory properties and are used in alternative and official medicine for gastric, infectious diseases, disorders of the liver and kidneys, stomatitis, tonsillitis. With lotions and rinsing of the decoction of the bark, skin abscesses, stings of stinging insects and purulent wounds are treated.
An extract from the leaves is the raw material for the manufacture of tanning compounds in the leather industry.
Landing
In temperate and continental climatic zones with average winter temperatures below -10 ° C, subtropical strawberries can be grown only in winter gardens or greenhouses. Trees growing in containers are exposed outside in spring and summer, moving to shelter with the onset of cold weather.
Planting is possible with seed or finished seedlings. To accelerate germination, seeds should be stratified: for 60 days they are covered with a mixture of needles and sand and placed in a cool, but not frosty place. Cracked shell indicates readiness for landing. After this, the seeds are soaked for a week in water, then placed in a soil mixture to a depth of 2 cm. It is advisable to purchase a special soil, but a mixture of equal parts of garden humus and peat with sand is suitable.
Sprouting strawberries takes several months, so you need to be patient. The optimum ambient temperature for plants is + 20–27 ° С.
Cuttings for propagation of an adult tree are harvested in autumn or winter. It is advisable to treat them with a phytostimulator and place in a sand-peat mixture. Within 2 months, the shoots will grow. It is possible to plant in permanent soil when they increase in height by 5-6 cm, and new leaves appear on the stems. Strawberry roots are fragile, so when planting, seedlings are carefully removed along with a lump of soil.
Care
Watering requires frequent, but moderate, only soft room water, which must be defended. To preserve moisture in the soil, it is recommended to put needles or pebbles on top. The air temperature for adult plants in the cold season can be reduced, for the dormant period, + 12-15 ° C is enough. Watering them in such cases is required less often - twice a month.
The first 5–7 years, it is desirable to maintain containers with plants under the same conditions in all seasons.
Fertilize the trees with organic, nitrogenous and potassium compounds. Mixtures should be made only during the growing season - from March to September. It is advisable to do this before watering.
It is unlikely that you need to trim the crown from a strawberry tree located at home. It grows so slowly that in one haircut it can lose many years of growth. Leaves and branches should be removed only if they dry out or become ill.
Juicy shoots can damage fungal infections.Arbutus is characterized by damage to rust, late blight, anthracnosis, root rot. Sometimes the spider mite can damage the crown. If spots, a strange kind of threads or a large number of drying leaves are found, the tree is freed from sick and dead parts, sprayed with Bordeaux liquid or other drugs.
With frequent dropping of leaves, soil moisture is checked and corrected. Sometimes a tree needs replanting in new soil.