Strawberry-Tree will grow at a slow pace when planted in either full sun or partial shade on well-drained, acid soil. Plants are tolerant of wind and some drought once established and grow in well-drained clay. It is one of the most attractive small trees available for residential use but unfortunately is not normally available in the east. It could be grown and tried in the Deep South.
Sun Preference
Full sun and partial shade are best for this tree, meaning it prefers a minimum of four hours of direct, unfiltered sunlight each day.
Soil Preference
The strawberry tree grows in acidic, alkaline, loamy, moist, sandy, well-drained, and clay soils. It tolerates wet sites but does best in well-drained areas that do not experience severe drought.
Attributes
This tree:
- Blooms from October to December, with panicles of perfect urn-shaped flowers that are white to pinkish.
- Can be grown as a shrub or small tree.
- Yields red to orange drupes that are ½–1″ in diameter and ripen in the fall. The fruit is edible, commonly used in preserves, wines, and liqueurs.
- Features oval to obovate evergreen leaves that are lustrous dark green in color and 2–4″ in length.
- Grows in a rounded shape.