trailing arbutus

American  

[trey-ling ahr-byoo-tuhs] / ˈtreɪ lɪŋ ɑrˈbju təs /

noun

1. Also called mayflower.  Also called arbutus.  a creeping eastern North American plant, Epigaea repens, of the heath family, having leathery, oval leaves and terminal clusters of fragrant pink or white flowers: the state flower of Massachusetts.

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trailing arbutus British  

noun

1. Also called: mayflower.  a creeping evergreen ericaceous plant, Epigaea repens , of E North America, having clusters of fragrant pink or white flowers

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Etymology

Origin of trailing arbutus

First recorded in 1775–85

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

trailing arbutus

“Epigea” refers to Epigaea repens, commonly known as trailing arbutus or mayflower: a low-growing shrub that produces clusters of pink flowers.

From Slate ● May 17, 2016

By 1942, when Johnson retired, the first of Colby's new Georgian buildings blossomed amid the trailing arbutus on Mayflower Hill.

From Time Magazine Archive

Others make the world better for their beauty and fragrance and of these the ground laurel, the trailing arbutus, the mayflower, is best known and loved.

From Old Plymouth Trails by Winthrop Packard

E. repens, the trailing arbutus, is the May-flower of North America.

From The New Gresham Encyclopedia Volume 4, Part 2: Ebert to Estremadura by Various

On her succeeding birthday Terry, after a six-hour climb, had won for her a box of trailing arbutus from Mount Defiance's cool top; Bruce had sent her candy.

From Terry A Tale of the Hill People by Charles Goff Thomson