American wintergreen Gaultheria 'Big Berry' Red - Hardy plant

We recommend planting your Gaultheria procumbens as soon as possible after receipt in a flower pot or patio planter. Choose a pot with holes in the base to ensure good drainage. Cover the bottom of the pot with gravel or clay pebbles. Then add fresh potting compost and place the root ball at the correct depth. Fill the pot with compost, press firmly and water generously. Place the pot in a fairly shady spot. If the pot is porous, use a plastic inner or wrap bubble wrap inside, this will prevent evaporation and the soil from drying out too quickly. Gaultheria on the patio As the Gaultheria is covered with red berries all winter it makes it a very popular plant for extra colour on your patio or decking. It will look great planted in pots, baskets or even window-boxes. It forms a beautifull combination when planted with Leucothoe 'Scarletta' and the beautiful flowers of the Japanese Pieris 'Passion'. You can also plant them in a well-sheltered part of the garden.

Water your Gaultheria procumbens regularly to prevent the soil from drying out, it should be kept moist at all times. This small shrub likes acidic soil and we recommend adding some fertilizer to the soil. For a good growth we also recommend adding plant food to the irrigation water during the flowering period. If possible use rain water as it is much softer. Choose a sheltered spot for your Gaultherias procumbens and to help protect them from severe frost, cover with conifer branches. In April, remove any broken or unattractive branches, otherwise pruning is not necessary.

Teaberry (Gaultheria procumbens) has beautifull red berries. This densely branched shrub is evergreen and is reasonably cold hardy. The small white flowers that appear in spring are followed by relatively large berries. The Gaultheria was formerly known as Pernettya.