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 |
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