Re: Arbutus unedo wrong information

In its native habitat in Spain, Arbutus unedo tolerates drought but actually prefers moister soils close to creeks. Moister soils makes for more and bigger fruits, bigger foliage and taller plants. Here it is usually pollinated by bumblebees, therefore, a long period of continuous rain and cool temperatures may avoid pollination (bumblebees won't go out), although since it has a long flowering period it is rare at least some flowers won't be visited by insects.
The only problem I've seen with pests are aphids in the new spring growth.
In my opinion the fruits aren't very tasty and the little seeds are annoying among the teeth.
The "eat just one" also comes because of the high alcohol content of the fruit. Here in central Spain we make a liquor out of it called "Aguardiente de madroño".

Fran de la Mota
Miraflores de la Sierra
Northern Madrid, Spain.


----- Original Message ----- From: "Diane Whitehead" <voltaire@islandnet.com>
To: <medit-plants@ucdavis.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, November 30, 2004 10:24 PM
Subject: Arbutus unedo wrong information


I'm surprised at the misinformation I am finding on the web about Arbutus unedo.

This is a large shrub that flowers all winter and is very popular with hummingbirds. I never water mine and insects and deer have never touched it. Yet here is part of an information window about it, and about the only true part is that it has orange-red berries. Oh, and probably the part about intolerance of high humidity, but I don't know that personally. Maybe 'no' is the default setting. http://www.crescentbloom.com/Plants/Specimen/AO/Arbutus%20unedo.htm

Special qualities
Tolerates drought no Tolerates high humidity no Tolerates seaside conditions no Insect resistant no Disease resistant no Deer resistant no Best uses Symbiosis Attracts butterflies no Attracts hummingbirds no Autumn foliage no Colorful berries yes Desirable qualities Other interest orange-red berries Other interest color Other interest period
On to the berries:

Long ago I read that 'unedo' means 'eat one' because no one would eat a second. It rarely fruits here, so I never had a chance to check. I did see a lot of fruit last month in northern California. In Napa, they were dropping on the ground, so I tried one which was juicy and pleasant. It tasted as good as most tropical fruits ( only the distinctly flavoured tropicals get shipped - most are sweet and bland.)

I don't know why writers in the U.K. say they taste unpleasant. http://www.british-trees.com/guide/strawberrytree.htm

--
Diane Whitehead  Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
maritime zone 8
cool mediterranean climate (dry summer, rainy winter - 68 cm annually)
sandy soil


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