This spring-blooming plant with white or pink flowers called the trailing arbutus has a very common alternate name. What is it?

The connection between this hardy plant and its common name is deeply rooted in American folklore. According to legend, after enduring their first brutal winter in the New World, the Pilgrims of the Plymouth Colony regarded the fragrant, pinkish-white blossoms of the trailing arbutus as one of the very first signs of spring. This humble flower became a powerful symbol of hope and survival, a welcome promise that the harsh season was finally ending. In honor of the vessel that carried them across the Atlantic, they are said to have named it the Mayflower.

This historical association is so strong that the name has remained its most cherished moniker. Scientifically known as *Epigaea repens*, the plant is a low-creeping evergreen shrub native to eastern North America, often found in the acidic soils of woodland areas. Its cultural significance is officially recognized; fittingly, it was designated the state flower of Massachusetts in 1918. The trailing arbutus also holds the title of provincial flower for Nova Scotia, Canada, highlighting its beloved status across its native range as a true herald of spring.