Mitchella repens

Common Names

Partridgeberry, Partridge Berry, Twinberry, Running Box, Pigeon Berry, Boxberry, Checkerberry, Chequerberry, Deerberry, Foxberry, Tea Berry, One-Berry, Pudding Plum, Squaw Berry, Squaw Vine, Squawberry, Two-Eyed Berry, Two-Eye Berry, Winter Clover, Pigeon Plum

Summary

Mitchella repens, commonly known as partridgeberry, is an evergreen ground-cover native to North America, it forms a low prostrate mat with creeping stems that root at nodes to spread into colonies, leaves are opposite, small, dark green and evergreen, in late spring two white flowers appear in pairs at the ends of stems, and the ovaries fuse to form a single red berry containing eight seeds, it prefers partial shade to shade and moist, acidic, well-drained soil, it forms dense mats and is valued as a woodland or shade ground cover under trees and around acid-loving shrubs, it propagates by cuttings or division, seeds are possible but propagation is difficult, berries are edible but tasteless and persist into winter providing wildlife food, and it is generally pest- and disease-free with minimal maintenance once established

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

1-2 inches

Spread

6-12 inches

Hardiness Zones

Zones 3–8

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally partial shade.

Soil Type

Humus-rich, moist, acidic, well-drained soil.

Soil Drainage

Moist but well-drained

Soil pH

4.0-6.0, acidic soil.

Bloom Color

White, Pink, Purple

Bloom Time

Spring through Fall (May–October)

Foliage Color

Dark green

Fall Foliage Color

Green

Leaf Lifecycle

Evergreen broadleaf

Growth Rate

Slow-growing

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Cuttings, Division, Layering

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts birds