Prickly heath
Gaultheria mucronata

Family: Ericaceae

What it is like

A shrub. It grows 60-120 cm high. The stems are wiry. They form a thicket. It develops suckers. The leaves are glossy and deep green. They are 12 mm long and have spiny tips. The flowers are white and urn-shaped but often tinged with pink. The flowers are in clusters and hang down. Male and female flowers are usually borne on separate plants. The fruit are marble-like. The fruit can be white, pink, purplish or red. They are 6-9 mm across.

There are about 170 Gaultheria species. It contains antioxidants.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It is frost hardy. In Argentina it grows from sea level to 1,100 m above sea level. It suits hardiness zones 6-10. Arboretum Tasmania.

Countries/locations it is found in

Argentina, Australia, Chile, South America, Tasmania

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Chaura, Chauran, Chique, Shal, Sheukk

Synonyms

Arbutus mucronata L.f.; Brossaea philippiana Kuntze; Gaultheria mucronata var. mutica Hook. & Arn.; Pernettya mucronata; ?