Description: The strawberry tree is one of the botanical specialities of Ireland, but it is not native to Northern Ireland.

There are a number of old planted trees growing by the Glen River in Donard Park, near the site of Donard Lodge (demolished), in a wild-looking situation that resembles its native haunts in Kerry. Other planted examples are occasionally encountered in gardens or parks.

The tree is remarkable for bearing its strawberry-like fruits at the same time as the flowers, which are white, bell-shaped and typical of the heather family. The leaves resemble those of Rhododendron ponticum.

All names: Arbutus unedo L.

Distribution Map from NBN: Arbutus unedo at National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.

iNaturalist: Arbutus unedo at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.