About
Arbutus x andrachnoides is a bushy, evergreen shrub or small tree characterized by its distinctive peeling cinnamon-brown bark and glossy, mid-green foliage that has a lighter underside. This plant produces small, urn-shaped flowers that are typically white with a hint of pink, which appear in clusters from autumn through spring. It occasionally yields small orange-red fruits in the autumn. Although these fruits are edible and can be used for making jams and liqueurs in various regions, in the UK, this species is primarily cultivated for its 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
- Loam, Sand, Chalk
- Soil pH
- Acid, Neutral, Alkaline
- Soil moisture
- Well-drained
- Aspect
- South-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H4
Plant details
- Plant type
- Trees, Shrubs
- Habit
- Bushy, Spreading branched
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Height
- 4-8 metres
- Spread
- 4-8 metres
- Time to full height
- 10-20 years
- Suggested uses
- Coastal, Cottage and informal garden, Mediterranean climate plants
- Native to
- Turkey, Cyprus
- 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 humus-rich, well-drained soil in full sun with shelter from cold winds
- 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