The Strawberry Tree (Arbutus unedo L.) is an evergreen shrub or small tree in the family Ericaceae, native to the Mediterranean region and western Europe north to western France and Ireland. It grows to 5-10 m tall, rarely up to 15 m, with a trunk diameter of up to 80 cm. The leaves are dark green and glossy, 5-10 cm long and 2-3 cm broad, with a serrated margin. The flowers are white (rarely pale pink), bell-shaped, 4-6 mm diameter, produced panicles of 10-30 together in autumn. The fruit is a red berry 1-2 cm diameter, with a rough surface, maturing 12 months at the same time as the next flowering. The fruit is edible, though bland and mealy; the name 'unedo' means "I eat one", an apt description for the flavour. They mainly serve as food for birds.

Cultivation and uses
Unlike most of the Ericaceae, it grows well in limy soils. It is best planted in a sheltered position due to its late flowering habit. To grow as a tree rather than a multi-stemmed shrub, select one stem to become the main trunk, and keep any other basal sprouts pruned off. It prefers well-drained soil and only moderate amounts of water. The Strawberry Tree is naturally adapted to dry summers, though also growing well in the cool, wet summers of western Ireland. It is therefore useful for planting in areas with a dry-summer climate, and has become a very popular garden specimen in California and the rest of the west coast of North America. It is hardy in USDA Hardiness Zones 8 to 10. Pests include Scales and Thrips, and diseases include anthracnose, Phytophthora, root rot, and rust.

Synonyms include Unedo edulis Hoffm. and Arbutus vulgaris Bub.