Plant Library
Cherry Berries Wintergreen Gaultheria procumbens 'Gaulsidh5' Height: 10 inches Spread: 3 feet
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Hardiness Zone: 3a Other Names: Checkerberry, Creeping Wintergreen Description: Glossy green foliage turns reddish in cool temperatures; clusters of urn shaped white flowers produce large, red ornamental berries that persist; good groundcover for acidic, sandy and poor soils; leaves are fragrant when crushed; loves shade Ornamental Features Cherry Berries Wintergreen is primarily grown for its highly ornamental fruit. It features an abundance of magnificent cherry red berries from early fall to mid winter. It features dainty nodding white bell-shaped flowers at the ends of the branches from late spring to mid summer. It has dark green evergreen foliage. The fragrant oval leaves turn burgundy in the fall, which persists throughout the winter. Landscape Attributes Cherry Berries Wintergreen is a dense spreading evergreen shrub with a ground-hugging habit of growth. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other landscape plants with less refined foliage. This is a relatively low maintenance shrub, and should not require much pruning, except when necessary, such as to remove dieback. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration; Cherry Berries Wintergreen is recommended for the following landscape applications; Planting & Growing Cherry Berries Wintergreen will grow to be about 10 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 3 feet. It tends to fill out right to the ground and therefore doesn't necessarily require facer plants in front. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 10 years. This shrub does best in partial shade to shade. It requires an evenly moist well-drained soil for optimal growth, but will die in standing water. This plant should be periodically fertilized throughout the active growing season with a specially-formulated acidic fertilizer. It is very fussy about its soil conditions and must have rich, acidic soils to ensure success, and is subject to chlorosis (yellowing) of the foliage in alkaline soils. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution, and will benefit from being planted in a relatively sheltered location. Consider covering it with a thick layer of mulch in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This is a selection of a native North American species. Cherry Berries Wintergreen makes a fine choice for the outdoor landscape, but it is also well-suited for use in outdoor pots and containers. Because of its spreading habit of growth, it is ideally suited for use as a 'spiller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the edges where it can spill gracefully over the pot. Note that when grown in a container, it may not perform exactly as indicated on the tag - this is to be expected. Also note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.
