Mitchella repens

Partridge Berry

Plant Type:

BROADLEAF EVERGREEN SHRUBS

Mitchella repens – Partridge Berry is a beautiful trailing evergreen mat-forming-laying-flat-on-the-ground subshrub… or herbaceous perennial depending upon how you may see it. In either categorization I am always glad to stumble upon it in the rich woodlands it prefers. However, it does demonstrate some drought tolerance as I’ve found it growing in drier woodland settings as well. Small round opposite leaves are dark glossy green with a lighter central vein. Small paired 4-petaled fragrant white flowers sometimes with a bare pink infusion give way to Christmas red berries. Occasionally purple-flowered forms arise as do white-berried variants. Site it in shade planted in moist draining soils on the acid side of the Ph spectrum. Potted Partridge Berry from cutting.


Spread:

12-16 In

Colors:

White

Characteristics and Attributes for Mitchella repens

Season of Interest (Flowering)

  • Spring

Season of Interest (Foliage)

  • Four Seasons

Autumn Interest

  • Fruit / Berries / Seed Heads

Light

  • Morning Sun / Afternoon Shade
  • Dappled Shade
  • Shade

Attributes

  • Rock Garden
  • Massing
  • Woodland
  • Border
  • Wildlife Garden
  • Natural Garden
  • Edging
  • Evergreen
  • Ground Cover

Growth Rate in the Garden

  • Slow

Soil

  • Woodland
  • Acid
  • Fertile
  • Moist

Origins

  • Eastern U.S.
  • Central North America

Propagated By

  • Cutting Grown