The Arbutoideae are a subfamily in the plant family Ericaceae.

Phylogenetic analysis supported all genera of the subfamily as monophyletic, except Arbutus.

[1] Moreover, it was suggested that the non-sister relationship between Mediterranean and North American species may be explained by a once widespread distribution in the Northern hemisphere before the Neogene.

[1] The genera Arbutus, Arctostaphylos, Comarostaphylis form a particular type of mycorrhizal symbiosis with the fungus, Arbutoid mycorrhiza, which resembles ectomycorrhizas.

[2][3] This Ericaceae article is a stub.