Geograph - photograph every grid square

Known locally and nameplated as "The Madrona Tree".

Not particularly common round here but thriving in the grounds of the old Donibristle Estate. This Arbutus Menziesii (Pacific Madrone or Madrona Tree Link ) is one of only twenty or so growing in Scotland. This very tree is in fact the largest of its kind (in both height and girth) in the whole of the British isles.

Archibald Menzies, the Scottish botanist and surgeon was the first to describe the tree botanically.

It has several names, including (European species) the 'Strawberry Tree'. Also 'Bearberry'. North American members of the genus are called 'Madrones', from the Spanish name madroño. According to the 'Sunset Western Garden Book', the name 'Madrone' is used south of the Siskiyou Mountains of southern Oregon/northern California and the name 'Madrona' is used north of the Siskiyou Mountains.

Arbutus is a genus of at least 14 species of flowering plants in the family Ericaceae, native to warm temperate regions of the Mediterranean, western Europe, and North America. Link

Madrone Archive Project, Scotland: Link (Archive Link )

There are some further examples of this genus of tree in Scotland: Link
and another two in the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh.
One in the grounds of Castle Menzies, near Aberfeldy Link. One in the grounds of Innes House, near to Lochhill, Elgin, Morayshire Link and one in the grounds at Carberry Tower Estate Link
Some real Strawberry Trees - Arbutus unedo - at Tyninghame and at the entrance to Dunglass House, East Lothian.

Only one other shown on Geograph so far in England Link

More info: Link (Archive Link )

Look at that lamppost: Link