MAYFLOWER (Epigaea repens), also known as ground laurel or trailing arbutus, has ovate hairy leaves and fragrant, pink or white, five-petaled blooms that bloom in the spring. It prefers sandy or rocky soil and grows under or near evergreens in the forests. On May 1, 1918, the General Court designated it as the Commonwealth's official flower. Unfortunately, it has been on the endangered species list since 1925.
According to some, the mayflower was called after the month of May. It's possible that it was named after the ship that transported the pilgrims to the shores of Massachusetts. However, the Mayflower, the Pilgrims' ship, was named after the Hawthorn, which is known as Mayflower in England.
Pale pink or white are the colors of Mayflowers. Each Mayflower has a tiny tube with five flared lobes at the end. Mayflower lobes develop in a little terminal and upper axillary clusters and are about 1/2 inch long. Mayflower blossoms are waxy, sweet-scented flowers that get sweeter with age. Mayflower blooms in small, dense clusters in the axils of the leaves and at the tips of the stems. The leaves typically obscure the Mayflower blooms, especially early in the season.
Mayflower is a belly plant, which means that in order to get a true moment of placing eye and nose to the beauty and fragrance, one must lie down on one's stomach. Mayflower plant leaves are elliptical or oblong, with an entire edge and a rounded or heart-shaped base, they are alternate, evergreen, leathery, and oval or oddly shaped. The flower has tiny fleshy fruit with a five-chambered, many-seeded capsule that splits open when fully mature. The seeds are then dispersed by ants. The blooming season is only from March to May.
Interested in seeing what your state's official flower is? Check out our blog post on the 50 Official State Flowers of America!