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TreeSpecialist · 20th March 2008, 07:21 AM

If you had absolutely nothing else to eat, yes they are edible.

The tree was named "Arbutus" after the latin word for "strawberry tree."

I suppose to the first botanists the fruit looked like strawberries. The fruit is food for birds, small mammals, and even bears.

Teas can be made from the bark for stomach problems and soothing ointments can be made from the leaves.

The fruit usually doesn't ripen until December but may hang on the tree for a full year before falling.

In Texas we have Arbutus texensis - very similar to what you have in the Northwest. It's the only completely protected tree in Travis County. Very fragile, very easy to kill if disturbed and very slow growing.

Seedlings can fetch as much as $300.00 ( 5 gallon/ 1/2 to 3/4" caliper) or more.

20th March 2008, 07:21 AM	#2 (permalink)
TreeSpecialist Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 160	Re: Arbutus Tree Berry Nutrients If you had absolutely nothing else to eat, yes they are edible. The tree was named "Arbutus" after the latin word for "strawberry tree." I suppose to the first botanists the fruit looked like strawberries. The fruit is food for birds, small mammals, and even bears. Teas can be made from the bark for stomach problems and soothing ointments can be made from the leaves. The fruit usually doesn't ripen until December but may hang on the tree for a full year before falling. In Texas we have Arbutus texensis - very similar to what you have in the Northwest. It's the only completely protected tree in Travis County. Very fragile, very easy to kill if disturbed and very slow growing. Seedlings can fetch as much as $300.00 ( 5 gallon/ 1/2 to 3/4" caliper) or more.