Also known as Trailing Arbutus-Epigaea repens flowers well before May as evidenced under our side yard Hemlock currently. It got its name because it is among the earliest of spring flowers but generally appears before the actual month it is named for. In 1918, after failing to come up with a state flower, the legislature allowed the Massachusetts schoolchildren to select a name and they chose the Mayflower. Some credit the ship that brought the first Europeans to Massachusetts for the name but that isn’t the case.
I purchased ours from Nasami Farm, a the western branch of the New England Wildflower Society garden shop. As far as I know removing them from the wild is illegal but taking any wild plant is bad practice and, in most cases, illegal as well. Trailing Arbutus is a member of the Heath family and related to blueberries and cranberries.
Stephen Gingold Nature Photography Blog 
This isn’t one I’m familiar with. I suppose it lives in boggy areas?
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It’s a woodland plant the creeps or trails along the ground. This is under one of our yard hemlocks.
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All those little white hairs—if that’s what they are—surrounding the center of each flower add good photographic texture.
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Yes, hairs. That’s one reason why I purchased this plant for the yard. Love the hairs.
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Sadly, they are rare in the wild these days. Beautiful photo!
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I first saw these in Quabbin and have a few times since. But they are certainly not everywhere unfortunately. Thanks, Eliza.
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Lovely flower and story!
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Thanks, Liz!
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Another new one for me too, and a real beauty.
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The flowers are tiny as are the leaves but it more than makes up for that with beauty.
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I had no idea Trailing Arbutus is a flower. I came to know ‘him’ as a character in the comic strip Gordo; Trailing Arbutus was the grandson of Gordo’s housekeeper Alicia Contreras de Ortiz, better-known as Tehuana Mama. In 1950s Iowa, Gordo was our introduction to Mexico, and the strip was much beloved.
The flower is lovely; I can imagine that it’s much beloved, too.
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I’ve never heard of that comic. There could be a comic about a private eye named Arbutus.
Obviously it was loved by early 20th century Massachusetts students. Most of the flower folks I know are pretty taken with it as well. Very small but lovely with the pink hue and all those cute hairs.
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What a beautiful flower! Your excellent photograph highlights the texture of the leaves.
I was surprised to learn they occur in Florida, although only in a couple of spots in the panhandle. I shall have to visit my sister in Pensacola soon …..
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Not that I have much of an idea about Florida flora but I am surprised too. Good excuse for a road trip and a place to stay makes it even better. Once the flowers have passed the leaves are still a source of visual pleasure. Thanks, Wally.
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I love the texture of their leaves. It looks like they might be stiff ones, but not sure. Beautiful flowers and certainly something to look forward to each spring.
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They are just a bit thick so a little stiff. When I first looked for them a week or so ago they were covered by hemlock needles and I thought I had lost the plant. But a little gardening revealed them.
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There it is – the arbutus my mother appreciated – and it’s a plant that I never got to know. I love the pale, pale pink blush in the flowers. It’s satisfying to see it photographed so well, Steve! I’d like to see it in person someday.
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I am glad you enjoyed this image, Lynn, and it’s reminder of your mother’s pleasure with it. Unfortunately it only resides naturally in the eastern half of the U.S. Maybe some people or botanical gardens have imported it into your area.
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Maybe, but even for a botanical garden I think I’d have to travel over an hour into heavy traffic. I’ll content myself with your photos. 🙂
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