I've been seeing these for years around my neighborhood, never knew what they were. A couple minutes of googling gave me an answer. They are edible apparently. Might have to try one next time I'm out walking. Doesn't seem like anyone harvests them, just see a bunch of them fallen to the ground. They are really soft and squish easily.
https://www.specialtyproduce.com/produce/Strawberry_Tree_10303.php
My wife and I were just wondering this on a walk a few days ago. Thanks for the report, I'll have to try some. "...overripe fruit ferments on the branch and can cause mild intoxication" - maybe a supplemental report is in order?
Apparently there are other Strawberry Trees - Arbutus menziesii (madrona) and Muntingia calabura in addition to your Arbutus unedo. All reportedly edible. None sound as tasty as the Ugni molinae (Chilean Guava) I'm growing here though.
We have one in our front yard. I noticed there was some fruit on it for the first time today, way before I read this thread. Small world. I'll try the fruit tomorrow.
None sound as tasty as the Ugni molinae (Chilean Guava) I'm growing here though.
I had a Chilean guava growing in my yard for a couple of years, until it died in the cold one winter. I found the fruit a little mealy but it had a neat bubblegum-like flavor.
Although one of its common names is "strawberry myrtle", the Chilean guava is from a different family (Myrtaceae - myrtle family) than the "strawberry tree" discussed above, which in the Ericaceae (the heath family, which includes blueberries, huckleberry, rhododendron, salal and madrone, among other local plants).
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