Arbutus unedo

The Irish strawberry tree is an evergreen shrub or small tree in the heath or Ericaceae family, native and widespread in the Mediterranean region and western Europe north to western France and Ireland.

• Leaves are dark green and glossy, 5–10 cm long and 2–3 cm broad, with serrated margins.
• Flowers are white, bell-shaped, 4–6 mm diameter, in panicles of 10–30 in autumn.
• Fruit is a red berry 1–2 cm diameter, with a rough surface. It matures in about 12 months, in October, at the same time as new flowers are blooming, an unusual site. Fruit is edible, being sweet when reddish, and tasting similar to a fig.
• Bark is exfoliating.
• The Irish value the 'strawberries' being suspended off the ground to keep them out of reach of leprechauns.