Does it like sun or shade?

It prefers partial to full shade.

Can I grow it in a pot?

Yes, it thrives in containers with acidic, well draining soil.

Plant guide

Wintergreen.

Gaultheria procumbens

Pronounced gawl-THEER-ee-uh pro-KUM-benz

Also known as Checkerberry, Checkerberry, Eastern Teaberry, Boxberry, American Wintergreen, Creeping Wintergreen, Eastern Teaberry, Eastern Wintergreen, Mountain-tea, Teaberry, Wintergreen

Eastern Teaberry — Photo by Sandy Wolkenberg (CC BY) via iNaturalist

Wintergreen is a charming, low growing shrub that brings a lovely splash of color to your garden during the colder months. It produces glossy, dark green leaves and bright red berries that look beautiful against the snow. You will love how it spreads to create a lush ground cover in shaded areas.

Another photo of Wintergreen — Photo by Chris Reardon (CC0) via gbif

At a glance

Care level: Moderate
Plant type: Evergreen shrub
Light: Partial shade to full shade
Indoor light: Medium light
Water: Every 5 to 7 days
Mature size: 6 inches tall
Growth rate: Slow
Hardiness: USDA 3 to 8
Bloom time: Mid to late summer

Care

Keep the soil consistently moist and provide plenty of organic matter to mimic its natural woodland home. Watch for yellowing leaves, which often signal that the soil is too dry or lacks enough acidity. It prefers cool, humid conditions and does not enjoy intense heat or direct sun.

Watering: Keep the soil evenly moist but never soggy to prevent root rot.
Feeding: Feed with an acid loving fertilizer during the active growing season.
Pruning: Trim back any dead or damaged stems in early spring to encourage fresh growth.
Repotting: Repot only when the plant has clearly outgrown its container or the soil has broken down.
Soil: Acidic, peaty, well draining soil
Soil pH: 4.5 to 5.5
Temperature: -34 to 25°C
Humidity: 60 to 90%
Drought tolerance: Low
Lifespan: Perennial, typically 10 plus years
Fragrance: Strong
Deer and rabbits: High

Signs it needs repotting

Roots growing out of drainage holes
Stunted growth
Soil pulling away from the pot edges

Safety

People: The plant contains methyl salicylate, which is chemically similar to aspirin and can be harmful to those with salicylate sensitivities.
Pets: This plant is considered toxic to cats and dogs if ingested due to the presence of methyl salicylate.
Children: The bright red berries may look like candy to small children and should be kept out of reach to prevent accidental ingestion.
Contact allergens: Contact with the foliage is generally safe, but sensitive individuals may experience mild skin irritation.
Airborne allergens: There are no significant reports of respiratory allergies associated with this plant.
Edibility: The berries are edible but contain methyl salicylate, which can be toxic if consumed in large quantities.

How to identify it

Glossy, dark green oval leaves
Bright red, edible berries
Low growing, creeping habit
Leaves turn reddish in winter
Small, white, bell shaped flowers

Height: 0.1 to 0.15m
Spread: 0.3 to 0.45m
Leaves: dark green, bronze, evergreen
Flowers: white, pale pink, 0.5 to 1cm
Fruit: bright red, Autumn to winter

Problems to watch for

Root RotCommon
Leaf SpotUncommon
PhytophthoraUncommon
RustRare

By symptom

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Growing it

Propagation: division, seed, cuttings
When to plant: spring, autumn
Overwintering: It is fully hardy and requires no special protection in winter. Ensure the soil does not dry out completely during dry winter spells.
In containers: It grows well in containers at least 20 cm wide, provided the soil remains acidic and moist.

Division

1. Carefully dig up a section of the mat in spring.
2. Separate the rhizomes with a clean knife.
3. Replant immediately in acidic soil.

Pair this plant with other acid loving species to ensure consistent soil pH levels.

Grows well with

Rhododendron · They share similar requirements for acidic soil and partial shade.
Ferns · They provide a lovely textural contrast in woodland settings.

Similar species

Partridgeberry · It is another low growing, red berried groundcover for shade.

Science

Family: Ericaceae
Genus: Gaultheria
Order: Ericales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: Eastern North America
Conservation: This plant is common in its native range and is not currently of conservation concern.

It spreads via underground rhizomes to form dense mats in acidic, moist forest soils.

Value to wildlife: nectar source, winter food for birds
Pollinators: bees
Uses: groundcover, rock garden, woodland garden, container plant

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 1/9
Soil reaction: 3/9
Light: 3/9
Temperature: 4/9
Moisture: 7/9
Nutrients: 3/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Does it like sun or shade?: It prefers partial to full shade.
Can I grow it in a pot?: Yes, it thrives in containers with acidic, well draining soil.

Where the name comes from

The genus name honors Jean Francois Gaultier, a French physician and botanist in Quebec, while the species name means creeping.

Good to know

It is commonly known as wintergreen.
The leaves were historically used to make tea.
It stays green throughout the coldest winter months.

Also in

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This guide was generated with AI on September 26, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.