Scientific Name: Gaultheria procumbens
Common Name: wintergreen
Family Name: Ericaceae
Origin: Canada - eastern, U.S. - northeast
Hardiness Zone: Zone 3: (-40 to -34 °C)
Plant Type: Broadleaf evergreen, Ground cover
Mature Size: 0.1 - 0.2m x 0.6 - 1.0m (height x width)
Habit: Spreading
Form: Creeping / Mat-like
Texture: Medium
Landscape Uses: Ground cover, Rock garden, Wildlife food, Woodland margin
Exposure: Part sun/part shade, Filtered shade
Soil or Media: Acidic, Humus rich, Well-drained
Leaves: Simple, Alternate, Leathery, Pinnate venation, Lustrous, Elliptic, Obovate, Serrate, Serrulate
Flowers: Flowers solitary, White, Pink, Jun-Jul-Aug
Fruit: Capsule, Edible, (Accessory tissue), Red, Sep-Oct, (Persistent)
Key ID Features:
Low, creeping, evergreen groundcover; leaves thick, ovate, with very faint serrate margins and a wintergreen scent when crushed, dark green but may have a reddish tint in winter; fruit a red berry-like capsule (accessory tissue). Winter ID: fleshy red fruit with a minty taste.