Green in Winter: Trailing Arbutus

This rare little shrub, Epigaea repens, can be locally frequent in the high dune country near Lake Michigan. Photographed on December 30, 2012 in Porter County, Indiana.

The pictures below show the spicy-fragrant flowers that emerge in spring.

Plant Quiz Solved - Trailing Arbutus!

Good call, "Euphorb!" It is Epigaea repens, Trailing Arbutus. At home on acid slopes, this tiny native shrub stays green all winter and flowers in April and May. The flowers emit a very strong, very attractive spicy fragrance that can be detected from a distance. Look for it on the steepest slopes, especially cool north and east-facing ones where mosses are abundant. A photo of this plant in flower is posted below.

Photographed December 26, 2011 in northern Indiana

Photographed April 25, 2009 in northern Indiana

Trailing Arbutus and other nice things

Last weekend I went hill climbing in search of Epigaea repens and found it upon the Earth lying down, just like the name says. The fragrance of its flowers is spicy and sweet, and rather attractive to little black bees! I was also fortunate to get acceptable pictures of Dicentra canadensis, Trillium recurvatum, and Coptis trifolia, among others. Life is good for a botanist in April!

Epigaea repens, Trailing Arbutus

Dicentra canadensis, Squirrel Corn

Trillium recurvatum, Red Trillium

Coptis trifolia, Goldthread