Canary strawberry tree (madroño canario)

Arbutus canariensis

An island cousin of the strawberry tree with orange, warty fruit in winter and pink bells for the bees.

Type: small tree · native and wild plants
Hardiness: zones 9 to 11
Light: full sun to part shade
Size: about 20 ft tall, 12 ft wide
Harvest: November to January
From: Canary Islands
Drought-hardy once established
Here: Too tender to overwinter outdoors on the Lake Erie shore (zone 6b to 7a): grow it in a pot and bring it in, or treat it as an annual.

Good for: food, pollinators, wildlife.

Native to: Atlantic islands (Macaronesia). Hardy in zones 9 to 11.

The story

The madroño canario grows wild only in the laurel forests of the Canary Islands. Unlike the Mediterranean strawberry tree, its bark peels in red and cinnamon patches and its fruit is larger, orange and sweeter. The Guanches, the islands' first people, are said to have eaten it fresh and dried.

Planting

Full sun to part shade in well-drained soil; it tolerates poor, rocky ground once settled. Plant in autumn so the winter rain settles the roots.

Growing

Water through the first two summers, then only in long droughts. Mulch, and prune only to shape. Slow but long-lived.

Harvest and use

Fruit ripens orange in late autumn and winter. Eat it fresh when soft, or cook it into jam and syrup.

What to watch for

Root rot in wet, heavy soil. Overripe fruit can ferment on the tree, so pick it promptly.

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General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home