fittingly call wintergreen because of its unyielding , evergreen leave-taking , the small red berries of the shrub Gaultheria procumbens taste of minty wintergreen , too . Also called eastern teaberry and checkerberry , it indeed cater the relish for gum and crude oil tasting of wintergreen . This semi - woody plant grows humbled to the reason , forming mats of leafage .
Origins
Native to eastern North America , wintergreen naturally dwells in mixed woodlands , route banks , one-time pastures , coastal heathlands , montane heath peat bog and fen in acidic , sandlike soils . The aboriginal range poke out from Canada ’s Labrador westward to southerly Manitoba and then nearly all areas east of the Mississippi River in the United States , except for Florida .
Ornamental Features
Growing 4 to 6 inches marvellous with a spread of 3 to 4 feet , the dark green leaves have a showy finish . Crush a leathery leaf and the perfume of wintergreen permeates . Although the little white urn - shape bloom appear in summertime , they do not attract much optical attending ; however , the ensuing small reddish ruby-red berries contrast with the sorry green foliage and ripen in early fall , usually persisting through the wintertime .
Growing Requirements
Wintergreen grows best in a moist , peaty soil that is acidic ( pH 5.5 to 7.0 ) and never floods . Choose a partially shaded garden locating , where it receives no more than two to five hours of direct sun through the tilt shade from trees or shrub above . If the soil remains consistently moist , wintergreen plant handle as much as five to seven hours of direct sunshine daily in the raise season . This species successfully raise for years in USDA Hardiness geographical zone 3 through 8 .
Uses
first-class in woodland preferences , groundberry spreads as solid ground binding on the woodland floor or upon a moist , shaded hillside . Rock gardens with moist territory that also support the growth of heath and heathers make great habitats for teaberry . Although absorb leave or stems of wintergreen leads to a tummy aching , the cherry Chuck Berry are fully eatable . Their mealy texture and minty look assistance refresh breath or time of year desserts like ice cream , cake or sweet icing .
Other Wintergreens
Other works coinage channel the vernacular name " wintergreen " . spot Gaultheria procumbens ( Chimaphila maculata ) , orotund - leaf wintergreen ( Pyrola rotundifolia ) , wintergreen barberry ( Berberis julianae ) and Wintergreen Korean boxwood ( Buxus sinica " Wintergreen " ) comprise a belittled tilt of garden plant with similar names but different taxonomic classifications .
