
Light Needs

Mature Height

Mature Spread

Growing Zones
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
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.

Also Known 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

Also Known As:
2.5 Quart Pot
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 8"-12"
Pot Size:
~ 6.5"H x 6.5"W
Volume:
2.20-2.30 quarts

Also Known As:
#1 Container
1 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 10"-14"
Pot Size:
~ 7"H x 7.75"W
Volume:
2.26-3.73 quarts

Also Known 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

Also Known 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

Also Known As:
#5 Container
5 Gallon
Plant Age:
~3-4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 20" - 60"
Pot Size:
~11" H x 10 1/2” W
Volume:
3.5 - 4 gallons

We stand behind our plants with industry-leading guarantees to give you peace of mind.
We want your plants to arrive in great condition! If you notice any issues upon delivery, contact us within 3 days.
Starting January 1, 2025 all bushes, perennials & trees purchased come with an extended 1-year warranty for added confidence. If your plant dies due to a health issue within a year, we’ll make it right.

Pre-ordered plants are scheduled to ship in Spring 2025. We carefully plan our shipping dates based on your USDA Plant Hardiness Zone to ensure optimal planting conditions upon arrival. Want it sooner/later? Reach out, and we'll try our best to accommodate.
Estimated ship week for pre-ordered plants will ship based on growing zones as shown below.
Growing Zone | Estimated Ship Week |
---|---|
Zone 10 | March 31th |
Zone 9 | March 31st |
Zone 8 | April 7th |
Zone 7 | April 14th |
Zone 6b | April 21st |
Zone 6a | April 28th |
Zone 5b | May 5th |
Zone 5a | May 12th |
Zone 4 | May 19th |
Zone 3 | May 26th |
Note: These are only estimated ship dates. Plants may ship out later depending on weather & growing conditions of the plant.
Note: Only plants indicated as pre-order will ship as shown above. All other plants and hard goods will ship as normal.
Plants that are currently in stock typically ship within 2-7 business days after your order is placed.
Plant Addicts ships to the lower 48 states within the U.S. Unfortunately, we do not currently ship to Alaska, Hawaii, or internationally.
This plant cannot be shipped to the following states: Idaho, AK, HI. These restrictions apply only to this specific plant due to agricultural regulations or other limitations. Other plants may still be available for shipping to these states.
If you have any questions about shipping restrictions, feel free to reach out to our team!