Family: Ericaceae
Scientific name: Arbutus unedo
Common name: Strawberry tree
Origin: Mediterranean region

The strawberry tree doesn’t produce real strawberries, but strawberry-like fruits. The fruits’ colour fade from yellow to reddish brown, they are about 2 cm wide and taste slightly sour. Around the Mediterranean Sea, these fruits are often used for wines and liquors, but also for making jam. De bush/shrub or small tree has a maximum height of 3 meters and is fully hardy. Because of its late bloom, a sheltered spot in the garden is recommended. This species is used to dry summers, and thus loves a sunny spot.

Sowing description: Sow seeds in sowing mix and let them rest 4-8 weeks in the refrigerator. After this cold period, set them at room temperature, which breaks the dormancy of most seeds. Germination occurs irregularly. If the germination doesn’t occur, you can put the seeds back into the refrigerator for the same period and start over.

Sowing time: December - July
Difficulty: Intermediate
Minimum temperature: -20 degrees Celsius

Photo 2: J.X. Andreani (CCA-2.0 Wikipedia)