Arbutus andrachne
| Arbutus andrachne | |
| Light: |  |
| Moisture: |   |
| Hardiness: | 8 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Evergreen Self Pollinated | |
| Height: | 20' |
| Width: | 20' |
| Speed: | Slow |
| Blooms: | Early Spring-Mid Spring |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
 | |
Arbutus andrachne (common name: grecian strawberrytree)
Propagation: Seed - best surface sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe. Stored seed should be soaked for 5 - 6 days in warm water and then surface sown in a shady position in a greenhouse[1]. Do not allow the compost to become dry. 6 weeks cold stratification helps[2]. The seed usually germinates well in 2 - 3 months at 20°c[2]. Seedlings are prone to damp off[3], they are best transplanted to individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle and should be kept well ventilated. Grow them on in a greenhouse for their first winter and then plant out in late spring after the last expected frosts[K].
Basal cuttings in late winter[4].
Cuttings of mature wood of the current season's growth, November/December in a frame. Poor percentage[1].
Layering of young wood - can take 2 years[5][4].
Cultivation: Requires a nutrient-rich well-drained moisture-retentive soil in a sunny position with shelter from cold drying winds, especially when young[4]. Requires a lime-free soil according to some reports[5][2], but it thrives on a limy soil according to other reports[6][7][4]. Established plants are drought tolerant.
Plants are hardy to about -15°c[3].
The flowers are sweetly scented[8].
Dislikes being transplanted, it should be placed in its final position whilst young, giving some protection in its first winter outdoors[6][2]. Plants are very slow growing.
Most plants cultivated under this name are in fact A. x andrachnoides 'Serratula'[4].
Range: S.E. Europe. W. Asia.
Habitat: Evergreen scrub and rocky slopes[9] on limestone, serpentine and igneous rocks in areas that are very dry in summer[3].
Edibility: Fruit - raw or cooked[10][11][12][13][14][K]. A luscious, juicy texture with a sweet but insipid flavour[K]. Many people do not like eating more than a few of the raw fruits, though I find them very acceptable[K]. They make a good cooked fruit in preserves etc[K]. The fruit is about 15mm in diameter[4].
Usage: Plants can be grown as a hedge, they are tolerant of some trimming[15].
Wood - hard, close-grained.
Pollinators: Bees
Soil: Can grow in light and medium soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
In Leaf: Evergreen
Seed Ripens: Early Fall-Mid Fall
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sheat, Wilfrid. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. St Martin, 1948.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Rice, Graham. Growing from Seed Volume 2. Thompson and Morgan, 1988.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Phillips, Roger and Martyn Rix. Shrubs. Pan Books, 1989.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Bean, William. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Murray, 1981.
- ↑ Thomas, Graham. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray, 1992.
- ↑ Genders, Roy. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale, 1994.
- ↑ Polunin, Oleg. Flowers of Greece and the Balkans. Oxford University Press, 1980.
- ↑ Hedrick, Ulysses. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications, 1972.
- ↑ Douglas, James. Alternative Foods.
- ↑ Uphof, Johannes. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim, 1959.
- ↑ Tanaka, Tyōzaburō. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing, 1976.
- ↑ Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.
- ↑ Brickell, Christopher. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers. Dorling Kindersley Publishers, 1990.