Snowberry
Gaultheria hispida
Family: Ericaceae
What it is like
Gaultheria hispida is an evergreen Shrub growing to 0.9 m (3ft). See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 9. It is in leaf all year, in flower from May to June. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects. Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid and neutral soils and can grow in very acid soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland). It prefers moist soil.
Height (m): 0.9
Where it is found
Mountains to 1200 metres. Usually in wet eucalyptus forests in the montane and sub-alpine zone.
Australia - Tasmania.
Conservation Status:
Countries/locations it is found in
How it is used
Food
Rating: 2
Fruit - raw or cooked. Somewhat bitter. Not unpleasant, they taste somewhat like gooseberries when cooked but with a slight bitterness. The fruit is about 8 - 10mm wide.
Medicine
Rating: 1
Said to be useful in the treatment of cancer.
Cancer: Used in the treatment of cancer.
Other
Rating:
How it is grown
Prefers a 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 warmer climate than Britain in order to do really well, but it is quite hardy here. It is sometimes temperamental in cultivation. 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 then surface sow in a lime-free compost in a shady part of the greenhouse and keep the compost moist. The seed usually germinates well, usually within 1 - 2 months at 20°c, but the seedlings are liable to damp off. It is important to water them with care and to ensure that they get plenty of ventilation. Watering them with a garlic infusion can also help to prevent damping of. 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 so might need some protection for their first few years outdoors. The leaves remain very small for the first few years. 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. Larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the spring. Layering.
Best place to grow: Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade; Shady Edge;
Habit: Shrub
Hardiness: 8-11
Growth:
Soil: Light (sandy), medium
Shade: Semi-shade
Moisture: Moist