Eastern Teaberry is an understory plant in the blueberry family. It is commonly found in hardwood forests with light to moderate shade and acidic soil. It will also grow in moist organically enriched soil and clay, and it grows best in moist well-drained soil. It makes an excellent groundcover in shady areas of the landscape, tolerating even heavy shade. Plant in a rock garden, woodland garden, or along a foundation. When the leaves are crushed, a wintergreen fragrance is released. Plants can be spaced 10-14 inches apart but will tend to spread and form a dense carpet. The round fleshy scarlet seed capsules are a food source for a variety of birds and small animals. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious problems. Aphids and thrips are occasional pests. Mildew and leaf spot are occasional diseases.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day) | Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt)
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
Available space
Less than 12 inches; 12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 0 ft. 4 in. - 0 ft. 8 in. | Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Slow
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
5 - Groundcover (<1 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Creeping; Erect; Spreading
Texture
Fine
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Oblong
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Glossy; Leathery
Leaf value
Fragrant
Leaf size
1-3 inches long
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
New growth is light green with a wine-colored tinge. Simple, entire margin ellipitcal to oblog glossy dark green leaves turn purple in the fall. They smell and taste like wintergreen.
Fall color
Purple/Lavender
Flower color
Pink; White
Flower value
Showy
Flower shape
Urn
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Small, pinkish-white, waxy urn-shaped flowers bloom from June to August, which form at the base of the leaves.
Bloom time
Summer
Fruit color
Red/Burgundy
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit value
Edible; Showy
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Fruit forms as a berry-like capsule with a large fleshy red edible caly 3/8". Displays from September to November.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Canada, North Central and Eastern U.S.A.
Wildlife value
Fruits are eaten by many wildlife from birdes to small mammals.
Leaves and fruits are used to make wintergreen oil which is used in gum, canyd and toothpaste. Fruits can be eaten raw or cooked in desserts or salads.
Uses (ethnobotany)
Leaves were once used to make tea though it is no longer recommended. It was also used to treat arthtic pain and sore muscles. The leaves and fruit produce an oil that has been used as medicine, as well as in candies and chewing gum.
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Naturalized Area; Woodland
Landscape theme
Fairy Garden; Native Garden; Rock Garden; Shade Garden; Winter Garden