A Tree That Blooms and Fruits in Harmony
Few trees match the Strawberry Tree’s ability to surprise. Each autumn, while last year’s fruit ripens into clusters of bright red, round berries, new clusters of small, bell-shaped white flowers begin to bloom. This rare overlap of flowering and fruiting makes it a year-round source of food and beauty.
The berries, though more textured and less sweet than garden strawberries, are edible and have long been used for jams, jellies, and liqueurs. Their striking colour adds warmth to the winter landscape, marking the Strawberry Tree as one of Ireland’s most unique species.
A Lifeline for Pollinators and Birds
The Strawberry Tree’s dual flowering and fruiting cycle makes it an invaluable ally for wildlife. Its late-season flowers offer nectar when few other sources remain, drawing bees, hoverflies, and pollinators through the autumn months. As the flowers fade, the fruits ripen through winter, providing vital sustenance for birds such as blackbirds and thrushes.
This overlapping rhythm ensures that wildlife can rely on the tree through every season, a gift of continuity and abundance that strengthens biodiversity wherever it grows.
A Tree of Resilience and Purpose
Evergreen and deep-rooted, the Strawberry Tree continues to work for the environment even when other trees rest. Its leaves capture carbon throughout the year, and its dense foliage offers refuge for insects and small birds. The tree’s roots stabilise the soil, especially in coastal or rocky areas, reducing erosion and supporting healthy ground cover.
Although it grows slowly, the Strawberry Tree can live for centuries, offering long-term stability and quiet strength. Each one is a small but powerful anchor for ecosystems that depend on consistency and shelter.
Planting a Living Treasure
When you plant a Strawberry Tree with Grown Forest, you are helping to protect one of Ireland’s rarest native evergreens. You are supporting pollinators in autumn, feeding birds in winter, and preserving a species that thrives quietly yet significantly within our landscape.
Each Strawberry Tree planted adds beauty, resilience, and heritage to the land. It stands as a symbol of the care we owe to nature, a reminder that even the rarest treasures can work tirelessly for the world around them. Through your support, we ensure that future generations will walk among these living gems, witnessing a tree that flowers and fruits in perfect harmony.
