How to Grow and Care for Wintergreen Plants

Wintergreen is a native plant that makes an attractive, low-maintenance groundcover for shady locations that spreads by rhizomes. The bright red berries and reddish-bronze leaves of wintergreen plants are a welcome sight in the winter months when there's little else to look at in the landscape. Grown in pots, wintergreen is also a popular holiday gift plant.

In addition to the species, several cultivars have been introduced, varying in fall foliage color, berry size and color, height and spread, as well as hardiness. A common characteristic of all varieties of wintergreen is their moderate to slow growth rate.

Wintergreen Plant Care

Native plants such as wintergreen are primed to grow without any special care, provided you have the environment they need to thrive. Plant wintergreen in the early spring. Here are the main care requirements for growing a wintergreen plant:

• Plant it in a location with partial shade and well-drained, acidic soil.
• Water as needed to keep the soil evenly moist.
• Instead of adding fertilizer, spread leaf mold around the plants.
• Prune out old, woody stems in the spring to make room for new growth.

Light

In their native habitat, wintergreen plants grow in the dappled shade of temperate forests, where they creep along and form dense colonies among other acid-loving plants like mountain laurels and rhododendrons. The plants are shade-tolerant and may even grow in dense shade but will produce few or no flowers. Bright filtered sunlight will keep plants from scorching while giving them enough energy to produce blossoms and fruit.

Soil

Wintergreen is not finicky about soil quality, it will also grow in nutrient-rich soil as well as in poor soil as long as it is well-drained. As a member of the heath (Ericaceae) family, wintergreen needs acidic soil between 4.5 and 6.0 for optimum plant health. Perform a soil test to check the acidity of your soil, and if the pH is higher than 6.5, you must lower it with acid-rich amendments such as peat moss, which also helps with drainage issues.

Water

Consistent moisture is important to the health of wintergreen. The more sunlight your plants receive, the more moisture they will require. In dry spells and droughts, give them one inch of water per week.

Temperature and Humidity

Areas with mild summer temperatures and average to high humidity, as found in the Northeastern United States, are favorable to growing wintergreen. The plants fare poorly in the hot, dry climate of the Southwest.

Fertilizer

No supplemental fertilizer is necessary for wintergreen plants. These native plants are adapted to grow in areas with poor soil that is low in nutrients. As an understory plant, they get sufficient nutrients from the decaying leaves of deciduous trees, which you can mimic by spreading a layer of leaf mold around the base of the plants.

Types of Wintergreen

‘Cherry Berries’ has dense, glossy green foliage that changes to a deep red in the winter. The white flowers in the summer turn into large red, ornamental berries in the fall that persist on the plant. It forms a mat 10 inches tall and 24 to 36 inches wide. Zone 3-8. 

‘Redwood’ is a creeping wintergreen whose foliage also turns a deep red as temperatures drop. In late spring, pink flowers appear on the plant. With a height of only 4 to 6 inches, this is a low-growing variety that spreads 12 to 36 inches. Zone 3-8. 

‘Winter Splash’ has variegated green foliage with white edges that acquire a pink flush in the winter. The 12-inch plant blooms in late spring to late summer and produces bright red berries in the fall. Zone 3-8 

‘Winter Fiesta', also identified by the cultivar name ‘Hokutotakaji-001) is an introduction from Japan whose special attraction is its large white berries that turn cotton candy pink in the winter. It has a compact growth habit, reaching only 4 to 6 inches in height and spreading 12 to 36 inches. Zone 4-9. 

‘Berry Cascade’ is different from other wintergreen plants by the cascading way the berries grow all along the stem, making it look like a string of pearls. The other outstanding feature is that the berries ripen in waves from late summer through late winter in areas with mild winters. The winter foliage colors are bright orange and red on a plant that reaches 6 inches in height. Zone 3-9.

Pruning

In the spring, prune back the old, woody stems to encourage new growth.

Propagating Wintergreen Plants

Most wintergreen cultivars are protected by plant patents or trademarks and may not be propagated in any form. Therefore, propagation is limited to the species only. 

Wintergreen plants spread by creeping rhizomes and, as such, are easy to propagate with rooted stems. This method is preferable over propagation from seed, which in addition to being much lengthier has the added challenge of the seeds being tiny and requiring up to 10 weeks of cold stratification. 

Here’s how to propagate wintergreen from a rooted stem: 

1. Select a strong, healthy stem that creeps across the ground.
2. Carefully dig up the stem with all its roots attached.
3. If there are only a few roots present, dust the bottom with rooting hormone (optional)
4. Plant the stem in a 4-inch pot filled with damp potting mix. Make sure the roots are fully covered with soil.
5. Place the pot in an outdoor location away from direct sunlight and keep it evenly moist.
6. When new growth appears and the stem does not wiggle when you gently tug on it, it has rooted. Wait a few more weeks to let it grow some more, then replant it in the landscape or in a larger pot.
   

Potting and Repotting Wintergreen Plants

Wintergreen is suitable to be grown in pots. Select a pot with large drainage holes and use potting mix with a good amount of peat and sand, which will mimic the drainage and acidity the plants need. Alternatively, use a specially formulated planting soil for acid-loving plants. Keep in mind that potted plants need more frequent watering than plants in the landscape, especially in hot summer weather.

When you see roots coming from the drainage hole of the container, it's time to repot the plant to a larger container with fresh soil.

Overwintering

Wintergreen is a very winter-hardy perennial that needs no winter protection. However, if you grow it in pots, the roots are not sufficiently insulated against the cold. Burying the pots in the ground, or create a planting silo are two of the methods to winterize potted plants.

Common Pests and Diseases

The volatile oils of wintergreen deter most insects and the plant is blissfully free of serious pests or diseases. Occasionally, aphids and thrips may seek out the plants. They are easy enough to blast away with a jet of water. 

Poorly draining soils can lead to root rot or mildew. Other potential diseases are black and mildew and leaf spot.

How to Get Wintergreen Plants to Bloom

Bloom Months

Wintergreen blooms in June, July, or August, depending on the variety. 

How Long Does Wintergreen Bloom?

The plants bloom for several weeks during the late spring to early summer. 

What Do Wintergreen Flowers Look and Smell Like?

The waxy, urn-shaped flowers are small, less than 1 inch long, and white to light pink in color. They form at the base of the leaves and have a sweet fragrance. 

How to Encourage More Blooms

The light conditions have a direct impact on the flowering of the plant. If it’s blooming poorly, see if you can carefully prune nearby vegetation to let more sunlight onto the wintergreen. Deadheading won’t produce more blooms. 

Caring for Wintergreen After It Blooms

No after-bloom care is needed. Leave the spent flowers on the plant to let berries form, which are a good food source for wildlife, from birds to small mammals.