Gaultheria procumbens 'Very Berry'

Gaultheria procumbens 'Very Berry' is a heavily-fruited seed strain of one of our best native plant celebrities, an Ericaceous shrublet, found in well-drained, moist acidic woodlands from eastern Canada south to Alabama. Wintergreen forms an evergreen groundcover of small, glossy dark green leaves (purple in winter) which spreads by underground rhizomes to form a 2' wide patch in 5 years. The tiny white flowers adorn the clump in midsummer, followed by large pea-sized red berries in winter, which often persist through the following spring. The leaves are crushed to make wintergreen oil, teaberry chewing gum, and teaberry ice cream...just in time for a tea party!