Gaultheria
Gaultheria
Gaultheria are evergreen, often dioecious (i.e. each plant is either male or female - not both) shrubs with simple, rather leathery leaves. It bears small white or pink bell-shaped flowers that are followed by round fruits that are red, white or pink, or by a dry capsule with numerous small seeds.
Contributed by @lyndag
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Partial shade
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Occasional watering
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Frost Hardy: 23F (-5°C)
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Moist and free draining
Common name
Gaultheria
Latin name
Gaultheria
type
Evergreen Shrub
family
Ericaceae
ph
7.3 - 5.5 Acid - Neutral
Plant & bloom calendar
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Best time to plant
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When the plant will bloom
full grown dimensions
Gaultheria
Gaultheria are evergreen, often dioecious (i.e. each plant is either male or female - not both) shrubs with simple, rather leathery leaves. It bears small white or pink bell-shaped flowers that are followed by round fruits that are red, white or pink, or by a dry capsule with numerous small seeds.
Flowering
From Mid Summer TO Late Summer
The bell-shaped flowers appear in mid Summer to late Summer (and are followed by colourful round berries in Autumn)
Planting
From Early Spring TO Late Spring
Gaultheria prefer partial shade, but will tolerate full sun if the soil is kept moist - so bear this in mind when choosing a site. They also need moist, but free-draining, acidic soil.
Propagating by cuttings
From Late Summer TO Early Autumn
Take semi- ripe cuttings from this season's growth in Autumn. Cut neatly, just below a leaf node, a 5" approx. piece of a healthy shoot that has soft growth at the tip. pinch out the growing tip, and cut off the bottom leaves. Dip the bottom of the cutting in hormone rooting powder, and carefully place in a pot of cutting compost with the leaves just above the level of the compost. Water, label, cover with a polythene bag, and place in a warm, bright place, out of direct sunlight. Take the polythene bag off periodically for a while for ventilation (at least twice a week)