Erdbeerbaum

Der zierliche, bis 3 m hohe, buschige Erdbeerbaum zeigt sich über den Winter, von November bis Mai, als eine erfreuliche Augenweide, wenn er sich zugleich mit hübschen Glöckchenblüten, grünen und gelben unreifen Früchten und leuchtendroten reifen Früchten schmückt! In Mitteleuropa wird er im Kalthaus als Kübelpflanze gezogen.

Wegen der optischen Ähnlichkeit der reifen Füchte mit Erdbeeren erhielt dieser Kleinbaum den Namen "Erdbeerbaum". Doch wer bereits beim Betrachten seiner reifen Früchte den Geschmack von Erdbeeren auf der Zunge verspürt, wird enttäuscht sein: Sie schmecken zwar saftig, aber ausgesprochen fade. Es wäre zu schön! Außerdem verrät der botanischer Artname des Baumes, "unedo", dass man nur "eine essen" solle. Unkontrollierter Verzehr führt zu Blähungen und Kopfschmerzen. Zu Marmelade verkocht oder als Likör veredelt verlieren sie diese unangenehmen Eigenschaften.  Dioskurides verglich übrigens die attraktiven Früchte mit den Prostituierten Roms: Sie sind schön, blähen und verursachen Kopfweh. 

Blätter und Rinde des Erdbeerbaumes sind stark gerbstoffhältig. Sie finden deshalb Anwendung in der Gerberei und, entsprechend verdünnt (30 g Trockenware auf 1 l), in der Volksmedizin (gleich wie Walnussblätter).

Das feinporige Holz lässt sich gut drechseln und eignet sich zur Herstellung von Flöten. 

 

 

Landscape Uses:Container, Espalier, Pest tolerant, Hedge, Standard, Specimen. Requires a nutrient-rich well-drained moisture-retentive soil in sun or semi-shade and shelter from cold drying winds, especially when young. Grows well in heavy clay soils and in dry soils. Most species in this genus require a lime-free soil but this species is fairly lime tolerant. Succeeds in fairly exposed maritime positions. A tree in a very exposed position at Rosewarne in N. Cornwall was looking rather tattered in April 1987 but it was 4.5 metres tall and carrying a very good crop of immature fruit[K]. Tolerates industrial pollution. Plants have withstood temperatures down to -16°c without injury at Kew. They grow very well in S.W. England, fruiting well in Cornwall. Plants resent root disturbance and are best placed in their final positions whilst young. Give them some protection in their first winter. The strawberry tree flowers in November and December, the fruit takes 12 months to ripen and so the tree carries both mature fruit and flowers at the same time and is incredibly beautiful at this time[K]. The flowers have a soft honey scent. There are a number of named varieties developed for their ornamental value. 'Elfin King', 'Croomei' and 'Rubra' are all small forms that fruit well when small. The variety 'Rubra' was 1.2 metres tall at Kew in late 1990 and was laden down with fruits and flowers[K]. 'Elfin King' only reaches a height of 1 metre, comes into bearing when young and fruits well. It is ideal for container culture. 'Croomei' is said to be a more reliable fruiting form. Special Features:Attracts birds, Not North American native, Attractive flowers or blooms. The plant is heat tolerant in zones 9 through 6. (Plant Hardiness Zones show how well plants withstand cold winter temperatures. Plant Heat Zones show when plants would start suffering from the heat. The Plant Heat Zone map is based on the number of "heat days" experienced in a given area where the temperature climbs to over 86 degrees F (30°C). At this temperature, many plants begin to suffer physiological damage. Heat Zones range from 1 (no heat days) to 12 (210 or more heat days). For example Heat Zone. 11-1 indicates that the plant is heat tolerant in zones 11 through 1.) For polyculture design as well as the above-ground architecture (form - tree, shrub etc. and size shown above) information on the habit and root pattern is also useful and given here if available. The plant growth habit is multistemmed with multiple stems from the crown [1-2]. In garden design, as well as the above-ground architecture of a plant, root structure considerations help in choosing plants that work together for their optimal soil requirements including nutrients and water. The root pattern is branching: a heart root, dividing from the crown into several primary roots going down and out [2-1].

Edible Parts: Fruit Edible Uses: Fruit - raw or cooked. Sweet but insipid. The Latin name 'unedo' means 'I eat one (only)' and suggests that the fruit is not very palatable[K], though another report says that the fruit is so delicious that a person only needs to eat one. It does have a somewhat gritty skin, but the fruit itself has the texture of a lush tropical fruit and has a delicate pleasant flavour. For those people with sensitive taste buds, this is a fruit that can be enjoyed when eaten in moderate quantities[K]. The fruit contains about 20% sugars and can be used to make delicious and nourishing jams and preserves. It is ripe in November/December and is about 15mm in diameter. When fully ripe it falls from the tree and so it is advisable to grow the plant in short grass in order to cushion the fall of the fruit[K].

Tannin Wood Tannin is obtained from the leaves, bark and fruit. The bark contains 45% tannin. Wood - used for turning, Greek flutes etc. It makes a good charcoal.

Heimisch: Africa, Albania, Algeria, Baleares, Bulgaria, Corse, Cyprus, East Aegean Is., England [I] (England [I], Wales [I], Isle of Man [I], Scotland [I]); Ireland (SW-Ireland, Northern Ireland [I]); Germany [I]; Portugal; Spain; Baleares; France; Monaco; Channel Isl. [I]; Corsica; Sardinia; Italy; Sicily; Pantelleria; Isole Pelagie (Lampedusa); +San Marino; Slovenia; Croatia; Bosnia & Hercegovina; North Macedonia; Albania; European Turkey; Greece (widespread lowlands, incl. many islands); Crete (W- & C-Crete); European Russia; Morocco; Algeria; Tunisia; Libya; Canary Isl. [I] (Tenerife [I]); Northern Caucasus; Georgia [Caucasus]; Azerbaijan; East Aegaean Isl. (Lesvos, Chios, Ikaria, Fourni, Samos, Dodecanese, Kos, Nisyros, Tilos, Karpathos, Rhodos); Turkey (N-Anatolia, NE-Anatolia, NW-Anatolia: Bithynia, SSW-Anatolia, SW-Anatolia, W-Anatolia, WN-Anatolia); Cyprus (SW-Cyprus); Lebanon (C-Lebanon); Vietnam [I]; Australia [I] (South Australia [I], Queensland [I], Victoria [I]); New Zealand [I], Europe & Northern Asia (excluding China), France, Global, Greece, Italy, Kriti, Lebanon-Syria, Manizales, Morocco, NW. Balkan Pen., Portugal, Portugal Continental, Sicilia, Spain, Tunisia, Türkiye, Türkiye-in-Europe, conterminous 48 United States Eingeführt: AU, Belgium, Canary Is., ES, France, Great Britain, Ireland, LY, Madeira, Madeira Island, New Zealand North, New Zealand South, PT, Tasmania, The Netherlands