About
Arbutus unedo 'Elfin King' is a compact shrub or small tree, typically growing up to 2 meters tall. It features rough, red-brown bark that peels away in strips, paired with leathery, mid-green leaves. This variety is known for its abundant flowering and fruiting early in its life. In autumn, clusters of white, urn-shaped blooms, occasionally with a hint of pink, emerge alongside the ripening red fruit from the previous year. While the berries are edible and can be utilized for jams and liqueurs in various regions, in the UK, they are primarily cultivated for their ornamental value.
About the genus
Arbutus consists of evergreen trees and shrubs that produce small, bell-shaped flowers in shades of creamy-white or pink. In the autumn, they bear red, strawberry-like fruits.
Growing conditions
- Sunlight
- Full sun
- Soil type
- Chalk, Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Acid, Neutral, Alkaline
- Soil moisture
- Well-drained
- Aspect
- South-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H5
Plant details
- Plant type
- Shrubs, Trees
- Habit
- Bushy
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Height
- 1.5-2.5 metres
- Spread
- 1.5-2.5 metres
- Time to full height
- 5-10 years
- Suggested uses
- City and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal garden, Mediterranean climate plants, Coastal, Wildlife gardens
- Toxicity
- Fruit are ornamental - not to be eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling Pets: Fruit are ornamental - not to be eaten - see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants for further information and useful contact numbers
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Grow in fertile, humus-rich, well drained soil in full sun with shelter from cold drying winds. Young plants may need winter frost protection
- Pruning
- Pruning group 1 but pruning should be kept to a minimum
- Propagation
- Propagate by semi-ripe cuttings in late summer
- Pest resistance
- May be susceptible to aphids
- Disease resistance
- May be susceptible to arbutus leaf spot and honey fungus