New to my garden this past summer is a wonderful evergreen shrub, Gaultheria procumbens “Very Berry” Wintergreen. The genus, Gaultheria was first named in 1783 to honor a Canadian physician and naturalist, Jean Francois Gaulthier.
This extremely low-growing cultivar, also actually considered to be a groundcover, is a marked improvement over the original wild species. Very Berry features dense glossy, green leaves that turn purple in the autumn, clusters of tiny white bell-shaped flowers in the spring and scarlet berries that appear in August and last all winter long.
This creeping shrublet will only grow to about 6 to 12 inches in height and about 2- to 3-feet wide. As it matures, the underground rhizomes will send up small bunches of shiny leaves.
Primarily grown as an ornamental, it offers attractive features in all seasons of the year. Its compact, mounded habit, shiny foliage and interesting aroma are just a few of the many reasons for growing this plant. What attracted me to it, along with its tiny size, is the bright scarlet berries that remain on the plant for a long period of time.
When crushed, the foliage has a strong wintergreen scent. In fact, the leaves are used to make oil of wintergreen. Although it is rarely used today, for centuries, this oil has been used medicinally. This plant is valued more for its flavoring qualities than as a healing agent.
The young leaves, which are tender during spring, can be chewed or scratched and sniffed. The refreshing taste can be especially welcome when hiking on a hot summer day.
In September, the leaves are ready to be harvested in preparation for distillation as oil of wintergreen. Although they soon become too tough to chew, they also may be gathered to make a tea. For this reason, the Wintergreen plant often is referred to as “Teaberry.” Other common names include Checkerberry and American Wintergreen.
The berries, measuring about one-third of an inch, are a bright crimson red. They last throughout the winter, maintaining their bright color and firmness.They too, are edible, tasting like oil of wintergreen. They actually contain a flavoring found in chewing gum, toothpaste, breath fresheners, Pepto Bismol and candy. This ingredient, called methyl silicylate, is related to aspirin.
Some wildlife, including wild turkeys, chipmunks, pheasants and white-tailed deer, find the evergreen leaves a good food source. Birds also find the berries attractive.
Gaultheria hookeri, a Chinese Wintergreen features large berries in all shades of blue in the fall. Native to China, this easy to grow shrub, which is very heat-tolerant is unusual and new to the American market. As of yet, it is not often found in our local gardens. The Chinese Wintergreen is suitable for a shady border or as a foundation planting on the north side of our homes.
Chinese Wintergreen enjoy the same types of soil and exposures as members of the Rhododendron family. They will do well as an understory groundcover to shrubs that prefer light shade.
Their dense, dark-green foliage is accompanied by dangling white blossoms that last for several weeks. In late summer and throughout the fall, large berries in shades of blue ranging from periwinkle to royal purple and navy blue, appear. The fact that the foliage remains green all winter long makes this an attractive plant year-round.
When planting your Wintergreen, select a well-drained location with soil that is rich in organic material. Add a layer of mulch to keep the roots cool. After your plant blooms, you will need to add a fertilizer that is good for acid-loving plants. Water your Wintergreen shrub regularly for the first growing season to encourage a deep, extensive root system. Keep in mind that more fruit is generally produced in areas that are sunnier.
Once the plant is established in the garden you can expect it to spread a bit into a larger mound. This lovely, carefree evergreen groundcover with the combination of glossy green leaves and bright red berries is sure to add a welcome holiday addition to your winter garden.
The Chrysanthemum Festival, which opened Oct. 27, at Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, Pa., will continue its run through Nov. 18. This year, the largest mum in North America, “Thousand Bloom Mum” measuring more than 11 feet in diameter will be featured.
Lee Gugliada is a member of the Great Kills Garden Club and First District Federated Garden Clubs of New York State.