Identify this shrub(?) please?

[paulnb57]

This is on the daily dog walk, fab looking fruits that ripen from Orange to deep red, any ideas what it is please?

 

[slowworm]

Strawberry tree, Arbutus unedo.

 

[British Red]

Exactly so

 

[slowworm]

Interesting... once you're sure of a positive id.

http://www.pfaf.org/user/plant.aspx?latinname=Arbutus+unedo

 

[British Red]

Fruit close up

Strawberry Fruit by British Red, on Flickr

 

[paulnb57]

Thats the joker -thanks folks!

Paul

 

[quietone]

They taste quite odd to me, very juicy, but dry at the same time. Bit bland too. I guess they would be good in a marmalade with another stronger flavour fruit.

 

[Nice65]

Unedo means "eat one" in Latin. That's because the fruits look great, but taste awful. Fruit that has just dropped from the tree is ok, but I'm not a fan.

Strawberry trees were planted in huge quantities along the south coast many years ago as seaside towns developed. The areas around Bournemouth have many of them.