Organic Forest Plants & More

Teaberry (Wintergreen)

Edible Landscaping

Zones

: 4 - 8

Duration: Perennial

Growth Habit: Ground cover, shrub, subshrub

Mature Size: Height: 0.5'. Spread: 3'.

Flowers: late May - September

Fruit: July - April

Common alternate names for Teaberry:  eastern teaberry, checkerberry, checker berry, box berry, wintergreen, creeping wintergreen, partridge berry, mountain-tea.

Scientific name for Teaberry:  Gaultheria procumbens L.

Planting Information:

Course to medium soils, drought tolerant, low water usage. Preffered soil types: loamy, sandy, and organic.

Teaberry is shade tolerant, but its berries usually grow in openings.

Colors: Leaves: green to dark green. Flowers: white. Berries: bright red.

Edible - food uses of Teaberry:  As the name suggests, teaberry leaves can also be steeped to make an herbal tea.  The fruit is edible and can be used for pies and jams.

Healing medicinal qualities of Teaberry: The leaves can be used to create very strong methyl salycilate (active ingredient in aspirin), also known as oil of wintergreen.

Wildlife:

White-tailed deer browse teaberry throughout its range, and in some locations it is an important winter food.   Other animals that consume teaberry include wild turkey, sharp-tailed grouse, northern bobwhite,  ring-necked pheasant, black bear, white-footed mouse, and red fox.  Teaberry is a favorite food of the eastern chipmunk, and the leaves are a minor winter food of the gray squirrel in VA.

General description and characteristics Teaberry:

Teaberry is an amazing edible evergreen perennial ground cover in the wintergreen family.  Teaberry has a wide variety of useful properties including herbal teas, edible fruit, flavoring and even making aspirin.  The showy red fruits may last through winter.

The teaberry leaves are oval, glossy, and dark green . The plant produces small white bell-shaped flowers which mature into bright red berries summer through winter.

You may remember Clark's Teaberry Gum from your childhood.  Teaberry has a unique and unforgettable aroma and flavor.

Oil of wintergreen has a very distinct, sharp odor. It has been used historically in scenting candles, incense, and potpourri.

Easy care teaberries do not have heavy water demands, making them suitable for people who are trying to maintain low water gardens.

Many gardeners consider teaberry a must for winter gardens.

During the cold days of late winter teaberry is a treat to the eyes with its deep, dark-green leaves and  scarlet berries. Teaberry is one of the few sources of green leaves in the winter months.

In a garden setting this evergreen prefers shade, accepting the morning sun. In the garden situation they will form a thick, substantial ground cover. Once established they are relatively trouble free with the only required maintenance of keeping garden debris from covering the mats.