- Partial Shade to Partial Sun (3 - 6 Hours Of Direct Sunlight)
- Mature Height 3 - 6 Inches
- Mature Spread 16 Inches
- Growing Zones 3 - 7
Gaultheria procumbens is a native shrubby groundcover at its best in the fall and winter when the brightest red berries appear. The combination of dark-green evergreen foliage and berries gives this plant a festive look that can be enjoyed indoors as decoration or in the garden as a useful and tough groundcover. Wintergreen is at home in the shady garden and attracts beneficial pollinators through the summer with its delicate, waxy flowers. Later in the fall and winter, songbirds are attracted to the juicy fruit. Wintergreen is Native to the Eastern half of the United States and is often called Teaberry. The original flavoring of Wintergreen comes from the leaves, and tea can be made from the leaves and edible berries.
Christmas Wintergreen can be grown in a pot and used to decorate indoor spaces during the winter holidays. The deep-green leaves and red berries are lovely with other decorative plants like Rosemary, Fir boughs, and Birch branches. Outdoors, Wintergreen forms a tough groundcover that can suppress weeds and add a natural look to a woodland or shady garden. Gaultheria is low maintenance and grows well in damp or dry shade.
Christmas Wintergreen Care
Wintergreen prefers acidic soil and tolerates a few hours of full sun in the early morning or late afternoon. Plant in a well-drained spot and mulch the root zone well with 2-3 inches of organic compost. Water deeply once a week to encourage the roots to grow deep in the soil. Container-grown plants should be watered when the top 1-2 inches of soil are dry. Fertilize Wintergreen in the early spring with a granular, slow-release feed formulated for acid-loving plants.
Pruning is seldom necessary for Wintergreen. Cut back winter damage in the spring, and remove sucker growth during the summer. This woody shrub will grow denser when given a few hours of direct sun, although this does not affect the blooming and fruiting ability. The berries are edible and can be eaten while you make tea from the leaves. Indoor-grown plants will appreciate cooler room temps around 65 degrees F and greatly benefit from misting with water every 2-3 days to add humidity.
Christmas Wintergreen Spacing
Christmas wintergreens look best when planted in large numbers as a groundcover. The mature height is a dainty 6 inches, while the overall spread can be up to 16 inches. Plant each shrub 12 inches apart on center.
Christmas Wintergreen Information
| USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 - 7 |
| Plant Type: Bushes |
| Light Exposure: Partial Shade to Partial Sun (3 - 6 Hours Of Direct Sunlight) |
| Mature Height: 3 - 6 Inches |
| Mature Spread: 16 Inches |
| Spacing: 12 Inches |
| Habit: Spreading, Trailing |
| Flower Color(s): White |
| Flower Description: |
| Bloom Period: |
| Foliage Type: Evergreen |
| Foliage Color(s): Green |
| Foliage Description: Dark Green |
| Seasonal Interest: Summer Flowering, Winter Interest |
| Watering: Average |
| Resists: Deer, Rabbit |
| Tolerates: Drought |
| Attracts: Bees, Birds, Hummingbirds |
| Container Role: |
| Uses: Borders, Containers, Groundcovers, Mass Planting, Wildlife Gardens |
| Features: Attracts Pollinators, Foliage Interest, Fragrant, Low Maintenance |
| Brand: |
| Common Name: Christmas Wintergreen |
| Other Name(s): Eastern Teaberry, Checkerberry, Boxberry, or American Wintergreen |
| Scientific Name: GAULTHERIA PROCUMBENS |
- SKU:
- 1231000208-pc
Container Sizes
Please Note: The pictures below are to give a general representation of the different container sizes. The actual size/ages of plants are estimates and will vary based on; type of plant, time of year, last pruning & many other factors.
4.5" Pot
Also Know As:
4.5" Container
Plant Age:
~ 6 months
Plant Size:
~ 3"-6"
Pot Size:
~ 4.5"H x 3.75"W
Volume:
1.42 quarts
Quart Pot
Also Know As:
Quart
Plant Age:
~ 6 months - 1 year
Plant Size:
~ 4"-8"
Pot Size:
~ 4.75"H x 4.5"W
Volume:
1.50 quarts
2.5 Quart
Also Know As:
2.5 Quart Pot
Plant Age:
~ 1.5 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 8"-12"
Pot Size:
~ 6.5"H x 6.5"W
Volume:
2.20-2.30 quarts
#1 Pot
Also Know As:
#1 Container
1 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1.5 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 10"-14"
Pot Size:
~ 7"H x 7.75"W
Volume:
2.26-3.73 quarts
#2 Pot
Also Know As:
#2 Container
2 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1.5 - 3 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-18"
Pot Size:
~ 9.5"H x 9.5"W
Volume:
1.19-1.76 gallons
#3 Pot
Also Know As:
#3 Container
3 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 2 - 4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-30"
Pot Size:
~9.5"H x 11"W
Volume:
2.32-2.76 gallons
For more detailed information, please click here.
Plant Addict Guarantee (Included On All Plant Orders)
Plant Addicts Warranty - 1 Year (Extra Purchase Required)
Guide: How to Care for Your New Plant(s)
Planter Shipping
Standard Colors: 2-3 business days
Special Order Colors: 8 weeks - this is due to the planter being custom made with the color(s) of your choice
Please Note: On special orders there can not be any cancellations
Plant Shipping
Time of Order:
Summer Shipping
- If there is extreme heat we’ll delay shipping.
- We’ll have to review what areas the plants are traveling through along with your location
Once your plant is shipped you’ll receive an email with tracking information. Depending on the above criteria we’ll ship your plant(s) towards beginning of the following week from your order. We put together this helpful guide of what to do when you receive your plants in the mail.
It is important to know that all of our plants are clearly labeled for which growing zones the plant can survive in. The plants are thoroughly trialed and tested in every growing zone before we state the plant can grow in a zone. Again, our #1 priority is to ship the plants to you healthy and ready to thrive in your location. So we will do everything in our power to do so.
