Trailing Arbutus

Trailing Arbutus
Epigaea repens

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Trailing Arbutus is well-known for its heavenly fragrance. You have to practically lie down on the ground to get close enough, but it's worth it. (Please don't pick the flowers!) I don't wear perfumes, but if someone came out with an Arbutus scent I'd be first in line to buy it. This is a member of the heath family - cousin to all our native rhododendrons, laurel, blueberries and azaleas. Unlike the more familiar heaths, Arbutus grows only ground high. It has a reputation for being one of the first spring bloomers. I have not found this to be true. Most years I can find the leaves and buds by March, but the flowers won't open until April. (Do look for it to bloom early at low elevations.) It prefers dry, sunny locations and can often be found trailside, especially on eastern or southern slopes near pines, laurel thickets and Galax. The flowers are small, about 1/3" across, and are usually more white than pink.

A note on the nomenclature (naming conventions) on this site: Scientific names and classifications are constantly being argued and changed, and it drives me nuts. Although I use many different sources for knowledge, for naming consistency I use the "Manual of the Vascular Flora of the Carolinas" by Radford, Ahles and Bell, 1968 edition. This book is a well-established authority for the plants of our region and I've been using it for years. If for some reason I must use a different source for a particular plant, I will make note of it within the descriptive text. Don't like it? Tough!

fdudley@weaversites.com

Fiona Dudley
Weaversites
986 Reems Creek Road
Weaverville NC 28787

828-231-1501