Hi Kathy do a Google on " Muntingia calabura" also known as Panama berry, Malay cherry and others as well.

I grew one up in Townsville it grew huge and fast like 6 mts in a couple of years, the fruits are small and very sweet to me tasting more like caramel than strawberry but delicious all the same, that is if you managed to get any as the tree was very much loved by the Fruit Bats( so smelly) and Lorikeets ( noisy ) also it was very near the house as I planted it for shade without doing proper research first just going by the locals who recomended it, having lived in Melbourne for 45 years so I knew nothing about tropical trees.

But on the down side as well I found it very invasive with the roots going such a long way, and new suckers coming up from them actually one trees roots got to be a nightmare as we were always mowing over them making them sprout all the more, so do a bit of research on it first. Hope this helps......MM.

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:2112313}}

Some people love them I personally feel there are far nicer things to grow, I have been told that you can make a jelly out of the little fruit, I have inherited twice in homes we have bought & both times we replaced it, this is only my opinion maybe wait a year & see if you like it
Jan.

Interesting. I am in Adelaide and have a strawberry tree growing in my front yard. I see it as a feature of my garden. It fruits very little but some, I find the fruit itself pretty ordinary with a berry type flavor. I have trimmed the tree branchless to a height of 2 mts and have a small bench seat underneath it..It here is non invasive and never have I watered or had a need to care for it in any way.

Hi Peter yes it is interesting the name strawberry tree, why do people call them common names they are so confusing.

The strawberry tree grown in the tropics is the Muntingia calabura and the fruit on it is very small about 1cm round and looks nothing like a strawberry and are very sweet, have a look at my link up top "Photo of fruit" I really don't think this tree would grow down south but I could be wrong.

Your strawberry tree could possibly be one of the "Arbutus" species maybe "enedo" common name Irish strawberry tree and native to Ireland, its fruit look kind of like a strawberry but taste very bland have a look at the link below this one may be it I would like to know if it is. Cheers ....MM

Here is a link that might be useful: Arbutus enedo

The one I refered to is the Irish Strawberry tree sorry if I guided you wrong I do not know the one that MM is refering to it sounds nicer than the one I thought you meant
Jan.

You are right. The tree I have is Arbutus enedo I like it, attractive trunk when trimmed back.and no fuss at all.
Well done mistymorn. and its nice to know what I have actually got growing !

Thanks Jan and Peter for your input thats good to know.
MM.

I have just looked at the 2 links to pics. & the one I was refering to is the Irish Strawberry Tree (Arbutis Enedo) it is very different to the pic. MM put on of the fruit I have never seen it
Jan.