Description
Gaultheria – x Gaulnettya – Pernettya –
There are about 170 species of evergreen shrubs, some rhizomatous, in this genus. They are widely distributed in woodland and open, moist, rocky places in the Himalayas, Eastern
Asia, Australasia, and the Americans. They are grown for their glossy, simple, alternate, usually leathery and aromatic leaves, for their small, pendulous bell or urn shaped flowers, to 1/4″ long, held singly or in racemes or panicles, and for their fleshy, usually spherical fruits. Suitable for woodland plantings, Gaultheria can also be grown in a rock garden or heather garden, or as a groundcover on a moist, shady hillside. All parts may cause mild stomach upset if ingested, except the fruits, which are edible.
Grow in slightly acidic to neutral, humus rich, moist soil in partial shade, full may be tolerated where the soil is permanently moist.
Prone to black mildew, powdery mildew, leaf gall, and fungal spots.
G. pyroloides – This rhizomatous, ground covering shrublet from the Himalayas grows 6″ tall and 20″ wide. It produces obovate to almost rounded, minutely spine-tipped, toothed, dark green leaves, to 1 ½” long. In late spring it bears short racemes, to 1″ long, of ovoid-urn shaped, pink flushed white flowers, which are followed by ellipsoid, blue-black fruit, to 3/8″ long.
Zones 4-8
