trailing arbutus
Epigaea repens
USDA zones2 to 8
SunHandles partial sun to full shade
WaterHandles dry to moist soil
Size2 to 4 inches tall6 to 16 inches wide
- Growth rate
- Slow
- Bloom season
- Spring
- Bloom color
- White , pink
- Foliage color
- Gray/silver, green
- Soil types
- Sand, loam
- Soil pH
- Acidic (pH<6.8)
Garden uses
Attracts
Notes
Trailing arbutus (Epigaea repens) is a shrub for ground cover and woodland gardens. It is hardy to USDA zone 2, or down to -50°F (-46°C). This plant likes part sun to full shade and dry to moist, sandy or loamy soil. Sweet-scented white to pale pink flowers open in early to late spring and attract bees and butterflies. The evergreen leaves form a slow creeping mat, so keep heavy leaf litter off it and avoid disturbing the roots.
Pairs well with American maidenhair fern, Beech fern, and Flore Pleno lily of the valley.
Native range
AL, CT, DC, DE, and 29 more places. See all 33
AL, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IL, IN, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MS, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, SC, TN, VA, VT, WI, WV; NB, NL, NS, ON, PE, and QC.