Gaultheria

( gol - TEER - ee - uh )

At-A-Glance Information

This evergreen shrub is grown for its attractive green foliage, bell-shaped flowers, and colorful fruits. They prefer acidic soil that is kept moist; smaller species are great for rock gardens and woodland plantings. They need partial shade and regular water. Their fruits are edible, but all other parts of the plant can cause upset stomach if ingested, so take care when planting these shrubs in your garden.

Gaultheria Species and Varietals

The genus Gaultheria includes 238 species, and is in the family Ericaceae. The genus was named for French physician and botanist Jean Francis Gaultier. Gaultheria growing zones vary by species; see below descriptions for more information. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Gaultheria miqueliana 
Best in zones 3-7 and 14-17. This shrub is native to Japan and the Aleutian Islands. It gets 8-12 inches tall and 3 feet wide. Leaves are dark green and small white flowers bloom in late spring, followed by pink fruits that taste like wintergreen. Great for alongside pathways or in containers. Best in full sun to partial shade exposure.

Gaultheria mucronata (Pernettya mucronata)
This shrub grows best in zones 4-7 and 15-17. Native to Chile and Argentina, this shrub reaches 2-3 feet tall and 4 feet wide. Spreads by runners. Leaves are small and dark, glossy green, and turn red in the winter cold. Bell-shaped white to pink flowers appear in spring followed by long-lasting fruits in white, pink, red, rose, purple, or black. These can be invasive, but can be controlled through trimming. Great as a low border plant or container spiller. Likes partial shade, but can take full sun in all but the warmest climates.

​Gaultheria procumbens (Wintergreen, Checkerberry, Teaberry, Boxberry)
Grows best in zones 1-7 and 14-17. Native to North America, this shrub reaches 6 inches tall and about 1 foot wide. Dark, glossy green leaves turn reddish purple with the colder temperatures in fall. Foliage has a wintergreen odor when bruised or crushed. Small, pinkish white flowers followed by scarlet red berries that smell and taste like wintergreen. Great as a groundcover. Variety 'Red Baron' has large fruit, and 'Very Berry' fruits heavily.

​Gaultheria shallon (Salal)
Grows best in zones 4-7 and 14-17. Native to Central California coast up to British Columbia. Can reach 4-10 feet tall and slightly wider. Glossy, bright green leaves and clusters of white or pinkish flowers bloom on reddish stalks in spring. Edible but bland black fruit follows blooms.

Caring for and pruning Gaultheria shrubs

Plant Gaultheria shrubs in partial shade in soil that is moist but well-draining and acidic, with a pH of between 5.5 to 6.5. These are understorey plants that do well in woodlands and alongside other acid-lovers like Rhododendrons or Mountain Laurel. They are relatively easy to grow if planted correctly; they are slow growers require no mowing or real pruning, 

Propagation

Gaultheria can be propagated by using cuttings, through division or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the cutting or division methods. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant. To propagate your shrub, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Gaultheria by Cutting
  1. Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand.
  2. In spring or early summertime, choose the plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that this plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances your cutting will take root. Cut one or more 6 inch portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch and strip the leaves off of the lower half. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot. Fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much.
  3. Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. Your pot should be kept in warm, sunny conditions indoors (and not in direct sunlight). Water whenever your soil is dry under the top layer. After about four to six weeks have passed, your cutting should be rooted. When you notice new growth, you'll know you have roots. 
  4. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring, when you can transplant it to its new home. Ensure that the last frost of the year has occurred before doing this, as it can seriously damage your new shrub.

Propagating Gaultheria by Division
Division is probably the easiest way to propagate these plants. The idea behind this method is that you are taking an existing clump of live plants and breaking it into smaller segments. Division should be attempted only when the plant is not in its blooming period. To use this method, you will need a clean shovel, clean pruning saw, extra pots if you are not going to immediately plant your divisions in the ground, and well-draining soil to fill the pots (again, if you will not be planting your divisions directly into the ground). To propagate by division, follow the instructions below:
  1. Identify the area of plants you're going to divide. Start by loosening the soil around the plant with your shovel, working your way inward to avoid causing damage to the roots. Once you've gotten your clump out of the ground, lay it out on its side.
  2. Divide the clump into segments, either with your shovel or with a pruning saw, as many as you'd like as long as there are at least three 'shoots' per segment. Lay them out on the ground.
  3. If you will be planting your shrub in the ground, this is when you'll prepare your new hole. Dig a hole (large enough to accommodate the root ball of the clump you are planting) in the ground with your shovel in a sunny location with soil that is well-draining. If you have issues with drainage in your garden, amend with loamy soil before planting. Backfill and water generously.
  4. If you are transporting your division elsewhere, or hanging on to it until you're ready to plant it, you'll need your pot filled with soil. Dig a hole large enough to accommodate the root ball of your division, and place your new plant in the soil. Water generously, ensuring that adequate drainage is occurring. Place the pot in a sunny location until you are ready to plant it in the ground.

Propagating Gaultheria by Seed
  1. Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand. You will also, after a few weeks, need individual 3-inch pots for each seedling that grows.
  2. Harvest your seeds. The seeds are contained within the fruiting bodies that are left once flowers fade. Remove the seeds from the flesh of the fruit, run them through a strainer to clean them, and set them out to dry on a paper towel. 
  3. Cold-stratify your seeds by placing them in moistened peat moss inside a sealable plastic bag, and put them in the refrigerator for between 4 and 13 weeks. Once this period is over, remove them from the peat moss and set them aside until you are ready to work with them.
  4. In early springtime, water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 1-2 months from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
  5. Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.
Gaultheria seeds are contained inside fruits that are left behind after the bell-shaped flowers fade.
Gaultheria seeds are relatively small, harvested from the berries of Gaultheria plants.

Problems and Pests

Gaultheria shrubs suffer from the following ailments:
  • Fungal Spot
  • Leaf Gall
  • Black Mildew
  • Powdery Mildew
For information on these issues, including how to eradicate them, see the links below:
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Gallery

Use Gaultheria in rock gardens or in woodland border plantings.
The berries on these shrubs will add wintertime interest to your garden.
The foliage can suffer some winter damage, but these areas can easily be pruned off.

Videos

All about Gaultheria procumbens.
Gaultheria berries are an all-natural treat.
How to identify Gaultheria plants.
How to grow Gaultheria shrubs in your yard.

Resources

Growing Wintergreen Plants: Learn About Wintergreen Growing Conditions
Wikipedia: Gaultheria procumbens
Wikipedia: Gaultheria
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Page 333, Gaultheria
If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or photos you’d like to add to the gallery, please let me know by sending me a message using the button below!
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