Gaultheria fragrantissima

Gaultheria fragrantissima also goes by the name fragrant wintergreen. It belongs to the heath family, Ericaceae. This shrub stays green all year. It can grow into a small tree. Its native range spans the Indian subcontinent and southwest China. It also includes Peninsular Malaysia. Records list Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and Vietnam too. It grows in woods, at their edges, and in slope thickets. These sites include pine woods and mixed forests.

Garden sources give a height of about 3.3 feet [1 metre]. Wider accounts give a range of 3.3–9.8 feet [1–3 metres]. Some plants reach 13 feet [4 metres]. The site can shape its form and leaves. In woods, plants can form large shrubs or small trees. They tend to have larger leaves too. On sunny slopes, plants often stay smaller, with narrow leaves. Crush the leaves to release a strong, camphor-like scent.

Plants For A Future gives April to May for bloom. The flowers smell like lily of the valley. Each has both male and female organs. Insects move pollen from flower to flower. The fruit turns purple-blue. It measures about 0.3 inches across. The leaves stay green, the flowers smell sweet, and the fruit adds colour. These traits suit a woodland garden. A border edge in shade is another possible site.

Grow it in moist soil rich in humus. The soil needs to hold water but not turn boggy. Sources favour ground free of lime, in shade or part shade. Plants For A Future lists sand and loam as suitable soils. It gives USDA hardiness zones 8–11. In Britain, it grows outdoors only in milder areas. Cornwall is one place where it grows well. Seed needs a cold spell before you sow it on the surface. Young plants grown from seed can suffer from damping off. Take care with water and give them good airflow at this stage.

People gather the plant for food, medicine, and scented oil. They eat the fruit fresh or cooked. They chew the leaves or brew them as tea. Oil from the leaves adds flavour. It takes the place of wintergreen oil in some uses. People also use it in perfume and hair oil. Reports of folk remedies list leaves, oil, or unripe fruit. Uses include coughs, worms, joint pain, and stomach trouble. These records show uses, not proof that treatments work or are safe. Both plant databases report no known hazards. This does not prove that the oil is safe in concentrated form.