Gaultheria myrsinoides

Family: Ericaceae

What it is like

Gaultheria myrsinoides is an evergreen Shrub growing to 0.2 m (0ft 8in) by 0.3 m (1ft). See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 9. It is in leaf all year, in flower from May to July. The species is dioecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but only one sex is to be found on any one plant so both male and female plants must be grown if seed is required). and is pollinated by Insects. Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid soils and can grow in very acid soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

Height (m): 0.2

Where it is found

Not known

S. America - Costa Rica to the Andes of N. Chile.

Conservation Status:

Countries/locations it is found in

How it is used

Food

Rating: 2

Fruit - raw or cooked. Up to 15mm in diameter.

Medicine

Rating: 0

Other

Rating: 3

A good ground cover plant for a sunny position or light shade, forming dense thickets. Plants should be spaced about 1 metre apart each way.

Ground cover: Ground Cover

How it is grown

Prefers a cool moist but not boggy humus rich soil in shade or semi-shade. A peat and moisture loving species, it requires a lime-free soil. Prefers a position in full sun, but it also tolerates light shade. This species only tolerates light and short-lived frosts so it is not very hardy in Britain. It can, however, be grown in a sheltered position outdoors in the mildest areas of the country. Some forms have proved to be fairly hardy, surviving even cold winters in southern Britain and producing fruit. There is some confusion over the naming of this species, the reports on the plants uses were listed under Pernettya prostrata and we are not sure that G. myrsinoides is the correct current name for the species. Closely related to G. pumila leucocarpa. This is an interesting plant for the rock garden. Dioecious. Male and female plants must usually be grown if seed is required. This species, however, does not need a male pollinator in order to fruit well. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus.

Propagating it: The seed requires a period of cold stratification. Pre-chill for 4 - 10 weeks and surface sow in a lime-free compost in a shady part of the greenhouse and keep moist. The seed usually germinates well, usually within 1 - 2 months at 20°c, but the seedlings are liable to damp off. Watering them with care and making sure they get ample ventilation will reduce this risk. Watering them with a garlic infusion can help to prevent damping off. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are about 25mm tall and grow them on in light shade in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out in late spring or early summer. The seedlings are susceptible to spring frosts and so it might be wise to give them some protection in their first spring or two outdoors.. Cuttings of half-ripe wood 3 - 6cm long, July/August in a frame in a shady position. They form roots in late summer or spring. A good percentage usually take. Division in spring just before new growth begins. 'Drop' the plants 12 months earlier by digging them up and replanting them deeper in the soil so that the branches are buried and can form roots. This works best in a sandy soil. It is best to pot up the divisions and grow them on in a lightly shaded position in the greenhouse until they are established. Plant them out in the summer. Layering in September/October. Takes 12 months.

Best place to grow: Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade; Ground Cover;

Habit: Shrub

Hardiness: 8-11

Growth:

Soil: Light (sandy), medium

Shade: Semi-shade, no shade

Moisture: Moist

Things to keep in mind

One report says that the fruit is poisonous. This is somewhat surprising in what is normally seen as a toxin-free genus.

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Pernettya prostrata. (Cav.)DC.