Strawberry tree

Profile

Family

Ericaceae

Habit

Tree

Height

7 m

Spread

8 m

Growth

medium

Lifespan

100 years

First yield

after 4 years

Hardiness

zone 8–11

Shade tolerance

partial shade

Soil

Sand, Silt, Loam

Soil moisture

very dry – moist

pH

5.5 – 7.5

Synonyms

Medronho, Madrone,

Flowering & harvest

Times apply to the northern hemisphere in a temperate climate and shift with altitude and cultivar.

Uses

Edible: Frucht (roh, gekocht) (Marmelade, Mus, Wein, Likör), 3-8t/ha ~300-1500kcal/m², 45kg/ha ~4kcal/ha; Honig;

Medicinal: The strawberry tree is underutilized in herbal medicine and requires further modern research. All parts of the plant contain Ethylgallate, a substance with potent antibiotic effects against Mycobacterium bacteria. The leaves, bark, and roots have astringent and diuretic properties. They also act as antiseptics on the kidneys, making them beneficial in treating urinary tract conditions such as cystitis and urethritis. Their astringent properties are useful in managing diarrhea and dysentery, and like many other astringent plants, they can be used to make a gargle for treating sore throats and irritations. Leaves are harvested in summer and dried for later use. The flowers have mild diaphoretic effects.

Other uses: Tannin is extracted from leaves, bark, and fruits. The bark contains 45% tannin. Wood is used for turning, Greek flutes, etc., and is suitable for charcoal production.

Notable

Besonderheiten: toleriert Wind, Salz, Dürre, Feuer, aber kein Umpflanzen; sein Anbaupotential ist noch nicht ausreichend erforscht, die 45kg/ha sind Wildsammlung, die t/ha hochgerechnet für eine Plantage, die es so noch nicht gibt; Nährwertangaben und Geschmack variieren je nach Standort (Boden/ Klima) & von Strauch zu Strauch; pharmakologischer Schatz;

Origin & habitat

Rocky slopes along highways

Found in the wild on mountain slopes, although the original habitat is unclear.

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