Gaultheria mucronata
Common name: prickly heath
Family: Ericaceae
Leaf: small, around 1cm long, evergreen, glossy green leaves, with a sharp/acute "prickly" apex, alternate, obovate-elliptic, arranged spirally along the stem
Flowers: solitary, white, campanulate flowers in spring, dioecious
Fruit: showy, edible, white, red, purple or pinkish-red, light pink
Height: up to 5'; Spread: up to 4'
Habit: evergreen rhizomatous spreading shrub; Form: mounded
Culture: Hardy in USDA zones 5-9. Best planted in full sun in a lime-free soil. Ideally having consistent moisture and a soil leaning towards acidic. Tolerant of light shade- though flowering/fruiting may not be as prolific. A very hardy plant once established, tolerating temperatures down to -20 degrees C. Can be a little bit challenging to establish, but once established it spreads quite successfully via suckers from rhizomes, forming thickets. prickly heath can take hard pruning and will grow back with vigour. Can be pruned back in spring if the plant is getting too leggy, and needs promotion of denser growth. If fruiting is desired, at least one male for every 5-6 females will be needed.
Uses: low hedge, groundcover, thicket, winter interest, evergreen foliage, containers
Origin: Argentina and Chile
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