Description

Wintergreen is a low-growing evergreen plant (thus the common name) with pretty red berries which are edible and provide pops of color in the winter landscape. It is a semi-woody, rhizomatous groundcover. Glossy, leathery, dark green leaves turn red in the fall. Small, bell-shaped, white to pink flowers produce red berries which may persist through winter. Wildlife supported: chipmunks, grouse, mice, birds and deer eat the leaves during winter. When trying to successfully grow a plant, I always envision it where it grows naturally. Wintergreen is most at home growing on the cool forest floor. It prefers organically rich, well-drained soils, and if happy, may spread over time into a groundcover. Per the Missouri Botanical Garden, “Plants are an interesting complement to other acid-loving shrubs such as azaleas, rhododendrons, kalmias and blueberries.” Height: 0.25-0.5 ft. Spread: 0.5-1 ft. Family: Ericaceae Bloom time: June to July Sun: part shade to full shade Water: medium photo credit: wplynn