Does anyone grow Arbutus unedo or orther edible madrone species in colder zones (8a or below)?
The arbutus genus belongs to Ericaceae family and consists of evergreen shrubs and trees. They are native to The Mediterranean, Western Asia and the Western United States.
Arbutus unedo is commonly grow in The Mediterranean for its edible sour/sweet fruits. They are used to make the Aguardente de medronho liqueur in Portugal. Not all species of this genus are edible.
What species and varieties do you prefer and how cold tolerant do you find them? I’ve read that regarding A. unedo, a variety named ‘Compacta’ is the cold hardiest.