Trailing Arbutus
Epigaea repens
Also listed as Epigaea rubicunda
Also known as Mayflower, Ground-laurel, Creeping Mayflower
Climate Match for your location
See how well Trailing Arbutus grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
A low-growing native groundcover with fragrant, delicate pink or white flowers that bloom in early spring. Best suited to woodland gardens and shaded areas with acidic soil.
Why grow it
Trailing arbutus offers early spring color when few other groundcovers are flowering, making it useful for extending the woodland garden season. Unlike many spring ephemerals that disappear by summer, it retains foliage year-round, providing consistent ground coverage. Its fragrance and low growth habit distinguish it from similar acidic-soil groundcovers like wintergreen or partridgeberry.
Watch out for
This species has a reputation for being difficult to establish from collected plants or nursery stock, so seeds or well-established container specimens are more reliable than transplants from the wild. It requires consistent moisture during establishment and does not tolerate compacted soil or root disturbance once settled. In regions outside its native range, success often depends heavily on matching both the acidic soil chemistry and woodland microclimate of its origin.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Ericaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Eastern North America
Native to: Alabama, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Ground cover
Low spreading plants that carpet the soil.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
A low-growing native groundcover with fragrant, delicate pink or white flowers that bloom in early spring. Best suited to woodland gardens and shaded areas with acidic soil.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Trailing Arbutus grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Trailing arbutus offers early spring color when few other groundcovers are flowering, making it useful for extending the woodland garden season. Unlike many spring ephemerals that disappear by summer, it retains foliage year-round, providing consistent ground coverage. Its fragrance and low growth habit distinguish it from similar acidic-soil groundcovers like wintergreen or partridgeberry.
Watch out for
This species has a reputation for being difficult to establish from collected plants or nursery stock, so seeds or well-established container specimens are more reliable than transplants from the wild. It requires consistent moisture during establishment and does not tolerate compacted soil or root disturbance once settled. In regions outside its native range, success often depends heavily on matching both the acidic soil chemistry and woodland microclimate of its origin.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Ericaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Eastern North America
Native to: Alabama, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Ground cover
Low spreading plants that carpet the soil.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
Similar ground covers you might consider:
Enter your ZIP code to see top native species and strong climate fits for you.