Overview

Discover the charm of the dwarf marina strawberry tree, a captivating evergreen that brings year-round interest to any landscape. This live plant, scientifically known as Arbutus unedo ‘Marina’, is celebrated for its distinctive cinnamon-colored bark, delicate white to pink bell-shaped flowers, and small, edible, strawberry-like fruit that ripens in autumn. Unlike its larger relatives, the ‘Marina’ cultivar maintains a more compact size, making it an excellent choice for smaller gardens, patios, or as a striking specimen tree. Our offering is a healthy 1ft tall specimen, shipped securely in a 6-inch pot, ready to establish itself in your outdoor space. This resilient and attractive tree is a true garden gem, providing both ornamental beauty and a unique edible harvest.

The dwarf marina strawberry tree is a versatile addition, thriving in a variety of conditions once established. Its evergreen foliage ensures continuous visual appeal, even in winter, while the simultaneous presence of flowers and fruit creates a dynamic display. Gardeners seeking a low-maintenance yet high-impact plant will find this tree particularly appealing. It’s a fantastic way to introduce architectural interest and a touch of the Mediterranean to your garden design.

Key Benefits

The dwarf marina strawberry tree offers a multitude of advantages for the discerning gardener, combining aesthetic appeal with practical benefits. Its unique characteristics make it a standout choice for various landscape applications.

• Year-Round Beauty: Enjoy continuous visual appeal with evergreen foliage, attractive exfoliating bark, and the simultaneous presence of flowers and developing fruit, providing interest in all seasons.
• Edible & Ornamental Fruit: Produces small, reddish-orange fruits that resemble strawberries. While not intensely flavorful, they are edible and add a unique ornamental touch to the tree, attracting birds.
• Unique Bark & Flowers: Features beautiful reddish-brown bark that peels to reveal lighter tones, along with clusters of urn-shaped white to pink flowers that bloom primarily in fall and winter.
• Compact Growth Habit: As a small evergreen tree, the ‘Marina’ cultivar is ideal for smaller gardens, urban landscapes, or as a patio specimen, typically reaching heights of up to 10-15 feet.
• Drought Tolerance: Once established, this tree is remarkably drought-tolerant, making it suitable for water-wise landscaping and regions with drier climates.
• Low Maintenance: Generally requires minimal pruning and is resistant to most pests and diseases, ensuring an easy-care addition to your garden.
• Attracts Wildlife: The flowers provide nectar for pollinators, and the fruits offer a food source for birds, enhancing biodiversity in your outdoor space. It’s an excellent choice for those interested in supporting local ecosystems with a dwarf marina strawberry tree.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Caring for your dwarf marina strawberry tree is relatively straightforward, making it a rewarding choice for both novice and experienced gardeners. This resilient plant thrives with the right conditions and minimal intervention. When selecting a site, ensure it receives full sun to partial shade; at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day is ideal for optimal flowering and fruiting. While tolerant of various soil types, it prefers well-draining soil. Amend heavy clay soils with organic matter to improve drainage, or consider planting in a raised bed if drainage is a significant concern.

Watering is crucial during the establishment period. For the first year or two after planting, water regularly to keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Once established, the arbutus unedo marina becomes quite drought-tolerant and will only require occasional deep watering during prolonged dry spells. Fertilization is generally not necessary in rich soils; however, if your soil is poor, a balanced, slow-release granular fertilizer can be applied in early spring. Pruning is usually limited to removing dead, damaged, or crossing branches, and to shape the tree if desired. This small evergreen tree is hardy in USDA zones 7-10, tolerating temperatures down to about 0°F (-18°C), though young plants may benefit from winter protection in the colder parts of its range.

Size & Details

This offering is for one healthy dwarf marina strawberry tree live plant, expertly grown and shipped in a 6-inch nursery pot. The plant stands approximately 1ft tall from the base of the pot, providing a well-established specimen ready for transplanting into your garden or a larger container. While this cultivar can eventually reach a mature height of 10-15 feet with a similar spread, its growth rate is moderate, allowing you to enjoy its compact form for many years. The ‘Marina’ variety is known for its dense, rounded canopy and attractive multi-stemmed growth habit. Expect to see its beautiful flowers and developing fruit primarily in the fall and winter months, adding vibrant color when many other plants are dormant. The evergreen foliage provides constant appeal, ensuring your garden always has a touch of green.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this plant get? A: The dwarf marina strawberry tree is a compact cultivar, typically reaching a mature height of 10-15 feet with a similar spread. Its moderate growth rate makes it suitable for smaller spaces and container gardening.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: This is primarily an outdoor plant, hardy in USDA zones 7-10. It thrives in temperate climates and is not typically grown as an indoor houseplant, though young specimens could be overwintered indoors in colder zones.
• Q: How much sunlight does it need? A: The arbutus unedo marina prefers full sun to partial shade. For the best flowering and fruiting, aim for at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: Yes, once established, the dwarf marina strawberry tree is considered low-maintenance. It’s drought-tolerant and generally resistant to pests and diseases, making it a good choice for busy gardeners.
• Q: What condition will it arrive in? A: Your dwarf marina strawberry tree will arrive as a healthy, live plant, approximately 1ft tall, shipped securely in its 6-inch nursery pot with soil, carefully packaged to minimize stress during transit.
• Q: Can I eat the fruit? A: Yes, the fruit of the dwarf marina strawberry tree is edible, though often described as somewhat bland or mealy. They are more valued for their ornamental appeal and as a food source for birds.
• Q: When is the best time to plant? A: The best time to plant your small evergreen tree is in the spring or fall, allowing it ample time to establish its root system before extreme summer heat or winter cold.
• Q: Will it survive winter in my zone? A: This tree is hardy in USDA zones 7-10. If you are in zone 6 or colder, it may require significant winter protection or could be grown in a large container and moved indoors during the coldest months.
• Q: What type of soil does it prefer? A: The dwarf marina strawberry tree prefers well-draining soil. It can tolerate a range of soil types, including sandy or clay soils, as long as drainage is adequate.
• Q: Does it attract pollinators? A: Yes, the bell-shaped flowers of the dwarf marina strawberry tree are a good source of nectar for bees and other pollinators, especially during the fall and winter when other food sources may be scarce.