Plant Spotlight: Wintergreen

Take a walk in the woods this month and see if you can spot wintergreen by the side of the trail.

One to two red berries will ripen under the oval leaves in late October. Wintergreen berries are edible, but always be certain you've correctly identified the plant before eating it.
One to two red berries will ripen under the oval leaves in late October. Wintergreen berries are edible, but always be certain you've correctly identified the plant before eating it.
When crushed, the evergreen leaves give off a wonderfully minty smell.
When crushed, the evergreen leaves give off a wonderfully minty smell.
Wintergreen, a low ground-cover plant, grows abundantly along woodland trail edges.
Wintergreen, a low ground-cover plant, grows abundantly along woodland trail edges.

Latin Name:

Gaultheria procumbens

Learn More:

https://plantfinder.nativeplanttrust.org/plant/Gaultheria-procumbens