Native to Greece and the Eastern Mediterranean, Arbutus andrachne is an important plant of the macchia, favouring calciferous soils. It grows as a shrub or multi-stemmed tree; its most striking characteristic is its silky red bark.

It has clusters of green tinged, white, bell shaped flowers in early spring, when the shrubs stand out at a distance from the darker green of the surrounding macchie. The fruits are similar to those of the strawberry tree but smaller and in bunches; they are not edible.