Pocket BotanistCheck these first
- Check if the soil feels bone dry.
- Look for white mineral crusts on the soil surface.
- Observe if the brown tips are crispy or soft.
Likely causes
Underwatering
Most likelyHow to tell: The leaf tips become crispy and brown while the rest of the leaf feels dry. The soil pulls away from the edges of the pot.
What to do: Increase your watering frequency slightly during hot, dry spells. Water deeply until liquid runs out of the drainage holes to ensure the entire root ball gets moisture.
Salt buildup
PossibleHow to tell: Brown tips appear even when the soil feels moist. You might see a white crust on the surface of the soil.
What to do: Flush the soil with plenty of distilled or rainwater to wash away excess salts. Avoid using softened water, which can contain high levels of sodium.
Find out what's wrong with your strawberry tree
The list above covers the usual causes. Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your actual plant and tells you the likely cause, how serious it is, and what to try first. Identification and a health check are free.
Scan with your phone's camera to get the app
Or go to pocketbotanist.app/get on your phone
When to worry
Minor browning on the very edges is common in very dry climates. Worry if the brown area starts moving inward toward the center of the leaf.
Stopping it coming back
Water consistently and use rainwater when possible to prevent mineral accumulation.
Strawberry tree: brown tips? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your strawberry tree and Pocket Botanist tells you which cause is most likely, how serious it is, and what to try first. A few checks a day are free. Save the plant and you get care reminders timed for it.
Scan with your phone's camera to get the app
Or go to pocketbotanist.app/get on your phone
Get the app · Or check it from a photo now, free
Questions people ask
- Should I trim the brown tips off?
- You can trim the brown parts for aesthetic reasons, but be careful not to cut into the healthy green tissue. Use clean, sharp scissors.
- Does humidity affect my strawberry tree?
- While it prefers moderate humidity, it is quite hardy. Very low humidity can contribute to brown tips, but it is rarely the sole cause.
Guides to these causes
More problems with Strawberry tree
- Why does my Strawberry tree have spots on its leaves?
- What are these bugs on my Strawberry tree?
- Why are my strawberry tree leaves turning yellow?
- Why is my strawberry tree not producing flowers?
- Why is my Strawberry tree drooping?
- Why is my Strawberry tree dropping leaves?
- How do I fix root rot on my Arbutus unedo?
- Why is my Strawberry tree growing so leggy?
Back to the Strawberry tree guide
This article was generated with AI on from the plant’s care profile and is general information, not horticultural advice. Read about how we build these guides.