Alphabetical Plant Listing

Mitchella repens (Partridge Berry)

Partridge Berry, Partridgeberry, Twinberry, Running Box, Pigeon Plum, Boxberry, Checkerberry, Chequerberry, Deerberry, Foxberry, One-Berry, Pigeon Berry, Pudding Plum, Squaw Berry, Squaw Plum, Squaw Vine, Tea Berry, Two-Eye Berry, Two-Eyed Berry, Winter Clover


A most attractive groundcover with highly ornamental foliage, Mitchella repens (Partridge Berry) is a small, ground-hugging, evergreen perennial or subshrub with trailing stems that root at nodes which come in contact with the ground. The stems are clothed with small, rounded, glossy dark green leaves often with paler veins. From spring to fall, tiny, fragrant, trumpet-shaped, white flowers lightly flushed with pink appear in pairs above the lush foliage. They give way to long-lasting red berries which are edible but tasteless and often persist throughout winter, unless devoured by birds and mammals. A most attractive woodland creeper with highly ornamental foliage, this eastern North American native can be used as a groundcover under acid-loving shrubs.

  • Grows up to 2 in. tall (5 cm) and 6-12 in. wide (15-30 cm).
  • Easily grown in humus-rich, moist, acidicwell-drained soils in part shade to full shade. Tolerates dry soils and is somewhat drought tolerant, but best with consistent watering.
  • Excellent choice for shaded beds and borders, underplanting shrubs and roses, cottage gardens, rock gardens, woodland gardens. A wonderful evergreen groundcover.
  • No serious pest or disease issues.
  • Propagate by cuttings or division. Partridge Berry is extremely difficult to propagate from seed.
  • Native to eastern North America, South Eastern Canada, and Guatemala.

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Requirements

Hardiness 3 – 9
Heat Zones 1 – 9
Plant Type Perennials
Exposure Partial Sun, Shade
Season of Interest Spring (Early,Mid,Late)
Summer (Early,Mid,Late)
Fall
Winter
Height 1" – 2" (2cm – 5cm)
Spread 6" – 1' (15cm – 30cm)
Spacing 12" (30cm)
Water Needs Average
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained
Characteristics Fragrant, Showy, Evergreen, Fruit & Berries
Native Plants United States, Midwest, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Wisconsin, Northeast, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Southeast, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Southwest, Texas
Tolerance Dry Soil
Garden Uses Beds and Borders, Ground Covers, Underplanting Roses and Shrubs
Garden Styles Gravel and Rock Garden, Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow

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While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.


Requirements

Hardiness 3 – 9
Heat Zones 1 – 9
Plant Type Perennials
Exposure Partial Sun, Shade
Season of Interest Spring (Early,Mid,Late)
Summer (Early,Mid,Late)
Fall
Winter
Height 1" – 2" (2cm – 5cm)
Spread 6" – 1' (15cm – 30cm)
Spacing 12" (30cm)
Water Needs Average
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained
Characteristics Fragrant, Showy, Evergreen, Fruit & Berries
Native Plants United States, Midwest, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Wisconsin, Northeast, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Southeast, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Southwest, Texas
Tolerance Dry Soil
Garden Uses Beds and Borders, Ground Covers, Underplanting Roses and Shrubs
Garden Styles Gravel and Rock Garden, Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow

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