Wintergreen Facts

Appropriately called wintergreen because of its persistent, evergreen leaves, the small red berries of the shrub Gaultheria fragrantissima taste of minty wintergreen, too. Also called eastern teaberry and checkerberry, it indeed supplies the flavor for gums and oils tasting of wintergreen. Wintergreen is a shrub-like plant that grows up to six inches in height and bears foliage round the year. When the plant is young it bears pale or yellowish green elliptical leaves that are delicately jagged or toothed. However, the mature leaves are rubbery and lustrous. The surface of the mature leaves is dark green in color, while below they are lighter. Wintergreen bears bell-shaped white flowers during the months of July-August and these are followed by red fruits.

Name Wintergreen
Scientific Name Gaultheria fragrantissima
Native Native to eastern North America
Common/English Name Aromatic wintergreen, boxberry, Canada tea, checkerberry, deerberry, ground berry, mountain tea, partidgeberry, spice berry, teaberry, wax cluster, eastern teaberry and checkerberry
Names in Other Languages Hindi: Gandapura
Kannada: Gandhapoora mara
Khasi: dieng lashyrhap
Marathi: Gandhapoorna
Nepali: Dhasingare
Sanskrit: Charmapatra
Tamil: Kolakkai
Latin: Gaultheria Fragrantissima
Tibetan: Dawami
Rai: Lamchassi
Sherpa: Chenchen
Tamang: Chanchhewaa
Plant Growth Habit Small indigenous shrubby, creeping, evergreen plant
Growing Climate Grows well in partially shaded garden location, where it receives no more than two to five hours of direct sun through the shifting shade from trees or shrubs above.
Soil Grows best in a moist, peaty soil that is acidic
Plant Size 6 in (15 cm) high
Stem Thin, Creeping underground stems
Leaf Spoon-shaped and less than 0.5 in (1 cm) in length. They are bright green, shiny, and have a leathery appearance. They are attached in tufts near the tip of a rigid, slender stalk. The upper side bright green, paler underneath.
Flower Tiny wax-like, urn-shaped flowers, which are either white or pink in color
Flowering Season June or July
Fruit Shape & Size startlingly brilliant red berry
Fruit Color Red
Flavor/Aroma Peculiar flavor
Taste Sweetish taste
Health Benefits
  • Helps in relieving stress
  • Antispasmodic
  • Analgesic
  • Diuretic
  • Antiseptic
  • Anti-rheumatic & Anti-arthritic
  • Acts as Stimulant
  • Astringent
  • Emenagogue

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