We recommend planting Gaultheria mucronata as soon as possible after delivery, in a flower pot or a patio pot. Choose a pot with holes in the base to provide adequate drainage. Cover the bottom of the pot with potsherds or a layer of hydro granules. Put fresh potting compost in the pot and place the Gaultheria root ball at the right depth. Fill the pot with compost and press firmly. Water generously immediately after planting and put the pot in a sunny or a partially shaded spot. Line a porous pot on the inside with plastic or bubble wrap, or use an inner pot of plastic material. This will prevent evaporation and stop the root ball of the plant from drying out too quickly.

Gaultheria mucronata on the patio

Because the colourful berries of Gaultheria mucronata stay on the branches all winter long, this is a very popular pot plant. These cute bushes give extra colour to your patio in autumn and winter. Plant Gaultheria in flower pots, patio pots or baskets. The small berries look delightful combined with the leaves of Leucothoe ‘Scarletta’ and the flowers of the Pieris japonica ‘Passion’. If planted in a sheltered place, Gaultheria mucronata can also be grown in the garden.

Water Gaultheria mucronata regularly so that the root ball does not dry out. This small bush prefers to grow in acidic soil. When preparing the ground add some fertilizer to it. For good growth we recommend adding plant food to the irrigation water, regularly, during the flowering period. Ideally rain water should be used. Place the plant in a sheltered area and provide some protection during severe frost, using branches of conifers. In April you can cut away any unattractive branches, any further pruning is unnecessary.

Gaultheria mucronata ‘White Pearl’ has white berries. The closely branched compact bush is wintergreen and can survive well during the cold weather. In springtime Gaultheria flowers with small white flowers, followed by rather large berries in comparison to the flowers. This bush is dioecious. That means that a female plant only bears berries when a male bush is in close vicinity. The old name for this small bush is Pernettya and is commonly known as ‘Prickly Heath’.