Water-Wise Gardening

California-Friendly Plant: Strawberry Tree

The image of the Strawberry Tree can be found emblazoned across taxis, buses and nearly everything else in the city of Madrid, Spain, as part of its historic symbol. It’s also a favorite among Californians for its drought-tolerant characteristics and good looks.

Handsome dark green leaves accent the tree. Mildly fragrant white flowers and yellow or red strawberry-shaped fruit adorn the Strawberry Tree in early winter through spring, making it a great showpiece for your California-Friendly garden. This shrub tolerates a wide variety of soil, so long as it is well drained. Water regularly for the first few months to help establish roots, but afterwards it only needs a drink every few weeks.

Although the fruit resemble strawberries, they don’t taste nearly as good and make better food for native birds than for humans. Pruning the plant can help it resemble a tree or a well-shaped shrub. Without pruning, the plant can grow to 20 feet tall or more, making a good screen if planted in groups.