ARBUTUS. Widespread, Europe, Asia, N. America. Rugged trees and shrubs distinguished for reddish bark, leathery evergreen leaves and clusters of urn shaped blossoms which ripen into attractive berries. The following thrive with sun or light shade, well drained soil, and only occasional, deep watering when established.

andrachne. This is the most likely identity for a group of beautiful plants grown from seeds collected near Jerusalem by plant friend Arie Lerner. They are strongly upright in growth, with stout cinnamon-colored trunks, the bark peeling in age. Their leaves are brilliant red to orange in new growth, becoming deep green and glossy above, paler beneath and expanding to 3-4" when mature. Flowers have not yet been produced at this point, but they should be white in color and carried in branched leafy clusters. Berries will be orange to red. Whatever their ultimate size (probably ranging from 15’ to 25’), plants of this species will have much the same uses as the others described here. They should be quite drought tolerant, but less prone to disease than A. menziesii.

‘Marina’. A stunning hybrid of disputed parentage, introduced by the Saratoga Horticultural Foundation. It is strongly upright in habit, growing eventually quite large (Mama plant, in Victor Reiter's garden in San Francisco, is currently around 50' tall). The leaves are 4-6" long and shiny in surface. Both the flower clusters and individual blossoms are exceptionally large and showy. Flower color is light pink with darker shading near the base. Berries are only sparingly produced. Hardy to 15^oF or less.