Key Features
- Low-growing evergreen herb with glossy, deep green aromatic leaves
- Produces small white to pinkish bell-shaped flowers in suitable conditions
- Develops attractive bright red berries that add seasonal garden interest
- Naturally suited to woodland, rock, border, and shade garden settings
- Spreading growth habit makes it useful as a ground-covering garden plant
Growing Benefits
- Adds year-round evergreen foliage to suitable garden spaces
- Brings a natural woodland character to shaded planting areas
- Attractive berries provide additional seasonal visual interest
- Compact growth works well around pathways, borders, and rock gardens
- A rewarding choice for gardeners growing traditional aromatic plants
Seed Specifications
Common Name: Wintergreen, Eastern Teaberry, Checkerberry
Botanical Name: Gaultheria procumbens
Plant Type: Evergreen perennial groundcover shrub
Colors: Deep green foliage, white to pink flowers, bright red berries
Height: Low-growing, generally around fifteen to twenty centimeters
Sunlight: Partial shade to dappled shade
Soil: Acidic, humus-rich, moist, well-drained soil
Water: Keep soil evenly moist without waterlogging
Germination Time: Several weeks to several months; germination can be slow and variable
Sowing Depth: Surface sow or press lightly into the growing medium
Spacing: Allow approximately thirty to forty-five centimeters between established plants
Growing Zones: Generally suitable for USDA Zones three through eight
Flowering/Maturity: Flowers in summer followed by red berries that can persist into colder months
Uses: Woodland gardens, shade gardens, rock gardens, borders, groundcover, and ornamental planting
Growing Tips
- Use an acidic, well-draining seed-starting medium rich in organic matter.
- Keep seeds consistently moist and avoid allowing the growing medium to dry out.
- Provide bright filtered light or gentle shade rather than intense afternoon sun.
- Be patient, as Wintergreen seeds can be slow and irregular to germinate.
Seed Storage
Keep unused seeds in a cool, dry, dark location inside an airtight container. Protect them from humidity, heat, and direct sunlight. For best results, follow the recommended storage conditions for the seed lot.
Unique Facts About Seeds
- Wintergreen is an evergreen plant belonging to the heath family, Ericaceae.
- Its botanical name, Gaultheria procumbens, describes its low, creeping growth habit.
- The plant produces red berries that can remain attractive after flowering has finished.
- Wintergreen leaves contain aromatic compounds responsible for their characteristic wintergreen scent.