Teaberries have always been a favorite plant of mine. Here is a description of the plant.

This description of the partidge berry also know as teaberry is directly from the Federal United States Forest Sevice website http://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/plant-of-the-week/mitchella_repens.shtml

Partridge Berry (Mitchella repens L.) aLso know as Teaberry

Partridge Berry is a member of the Madder Family (Rubiaceae). The genus name Mitchella was given to this plant by Linnaeus for his friend John Mitchell, a physician who developed a method of treating yellow fever. The species name repens refers to its trailing or creeping habit. Partridge Berry is found throughout eastern North America from Nova Scotia to Ontario and Minnesota, south to Texas and Florida.

Partridge Berry is a native perennial, a small, woody, trailing vine with 6 to 12 inch, slender, trailing stems that does not climb but lays prostrate on the forest floor. The trailing stems root at nodes which come in contact with the forest surface and may spread into colonies several yards across. The dark-green, evergreen leaves are simple, opposite, ovate, with a pale yellow midrib, are ½ inch across, with a short stalk. In late spring, a pair of white flowers (with a single calyx) appears. Each small, fragrant flower has four brilliant white petals that are pubescent and unite into a funnel-shaped tube that is also fringed with hairs. The pair of flowers occur in two forms (dimorphous). In the first form the pistil is short and the stamens are long; in the second form the pistil is long and the stamens are short. This structure prevents each flower from fertilizing itself. Both flowers must be pollinated to obtain a single scarlet berry. Each berry is the result of the fusion of each ovary of the pollinated pair of white flowers. As such, each berry has two bright red spots on its surface.

Partridge berry is a fairly common inhabitant of deciduous and coniferous forests in rich organic soils with dappled sunlight to complete shade. Depending on latitude and elevation Partridge Berry flowers from late spring to early summer. Partridge Berry is pollinated by insects. The ensuing scarlet berry contains eight seeds. The fruits are tasteless and generally survive through winter and into the following spring. Birds are the primary consumer of these fruits and the subsequent distribution of seeds. Seeds require a cold stratification through the winter and some will germinate the following growing season with many seed not germinating until the second growing season.

Some gardeners consider Partridge Berry a must for winter gardens. During the cold days of late winter Partridge Berry is a treat to the eyes with its deep, dark-green leaves and occasional scarlet berries. In a garden setting this evergreen prefers shade, accepting the morning sun. Partridge Berry is extremely difficult to propagate from seed. The best way to introduce this native into your garden is through 1 year old cuttings or by division. In the garden situation they will form a thick, substantial ground cover. Once established they are relatively trouble free with the only required maintenance of keeping garden debris from covering the mats. As always, do not wild collect plants from public lands and only from private lands when the landowner grants permission. Partridge Berry is a commonly available plant from native plant nurseries especially those who specialize in woodland plants.

Take special note in the picking of plants form other peoples property. Always ask permission.

I remember teaberry gum as a child. We were not given many sweets or gum as children but once in a while my parents gave us teaberry gum. I always liked the flavor and aroma of the gum. I was amazed one day while playing in the neighboring field to find a pretty plant with evergreen leaves and a small fragrant berry. I picked a small section of the plant and took it to my mother to see if she knew what it was.

It was teaberry and she told me the berry was safe to eat. It was not long before me and my brothers were hunting for teaberries. I mainly found this plant as a child in the neighbors open fields near the creek or forest lines.

Just recently I found many of the plants on an old dirt road that runs through a forest in Warren, PA. I have removed, with permission, some of the plants to a safer place. Being along the road it is only a matter of time before they will be dug away from snowplows and backhoes keeping the road in good shape.

The teaberries bring back childhood memories of long sunny days in the field. I also really like the look and aroma of this plant.

The berry is good to eat and many people like the plants to use in terrariums. The following link has more information on the plant. This plant also has herbal uses. http://thegardenersrake.com/teaberries-or-partridgeberry-plant-information

The weather is rather dreary in NW PA. today. But that has its advantages, the gardens needed a day away from bright sun and I needed a day away from watering. Mother nature always does a better job!

For some reason I have unusual plants on my mind today. There’s something about those plants that stand out from the crowd.

One year when I was foraging for flowers that would work for dried flowers I stumbled across Joe-Pye-Weed. On my property it grows near the creeks and along the tree lines. It caught my attention because of the size of the plant and flowers.

Not knowing exactly what is was I turned to my wild plant identification book and started to look. It was Joe-Pye-Weed, perennial herb. Note: Always ID a plant before you touch it. This lets you know its growing characteristics and if it’s poisonous.

Joe-Pye-Weed is a 5 to 6 foot tall perennial that grows wild in North America. It will do equally well in a perennial border. This plant has tall, upright purple stems and purplish foliage. The stems are adorned with fluffy pink-mauve flower heads that appear in early autumn. Because of its height it need to be planted at the back of the border.

It requires rich soil and needs to be given compost or well-rotted manure mulch in the spring.

Over all it has few needs and will grow well. I use the plant mainly for cut flowers and dry many of the flowers for later use in dried arrangements.

Tags: Joe-Pye-Weed, wild flowers, foraging for plants, drying flowers