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Gaultheria procumbens

Wintergreen

Family Ericaceae


Use
The leaves can be gathered to make tea. The berries can be eaten plain. The berries and leaves can be added to salads.



Description

Growth Form: Low growing plant. Spreads with shoots underground. Evergreen.

Leaves: Small, dark-green, oval shaped. Slightly toothed edges.

 

Flowers: Small, egg-shaped. Hang underneath leaves.

Fruits: Small red berry. Flavor of wintergreen (minty)

Wintergreen (Emily Silver, Northampton MA)
Whole Plant


Wintergreen (Emily Silver, Northampton MA) Leaves

 

Habitat and Range

Woods, clearings, poor waste soil. Canada and Northern US south to mountains of Georgia.

Season

Year-Round.




Fun Facts

It contains methyl salycliates, the active painkilllers of aspirin, useful for colds, headaches, and to bring down fevers.

The title of this website features these wintergreen berries!


Wintergreen (Emily Silver, Northampton MA)
Fruit
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