Gaultheria ovatifolia aka Oregon Wintergreen

Gaultheria ovatifolia is a small evergreen shrub in the heath family, Ericaceae. Its common names include mountain checkerberry and western teaberry. It comes from western Canada and the western United States. Its range includes southern British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, and northern California. It also grows in Idaho and northwestern Montana. Kew classes its native climate as temperate.

This low shrub reaches about 0.7 feet [0.2 metres] tall. It keeps its leaves through the year. Its small size suits ground cover in shaded garden beds. In the wild, it occupies a wide range of sites. These stretch from fairly dry pine woods to subalpine bogs. That broad wild habitat does not mean it tolerates all garden soils. Plants For A Future describes it as difficult to grow. It also reports poor growth in southern England.

Flowers appear from June to August, and insects pollinate them. Each flower has both male and female organs. The fruit measures up to 0.02 feet [0.006 metres] across. People can eat it fresh or cook it. Plants For A Future describes its taste as spicy. The source gives its food value three out of five. It lists no known medicinal uses and no known hazards. That hazard statement does not establish safety for every pet or use.

For garden growth, choose moist soil that does not stay boggy. The plant needs humus-rich soil without lime. Sandy or loamy soil can suit it. Plants For A Future lists very acid through neutral conditions. Its care notes place more weight on acid, lime-free ground. Shade or partial shade suits it, with a preference for substantial shade. It can serve as ground cover along a shaded woodland edge. The source lists USDA zones 5–9 for hardiness.

Mice may nest among the plants and damage stems in winter. They eat the bark, which can lead to shoot dieback. Seedlings also face a risk of damping off. Seed propagation starts with four to ten weeks of cold treatment. Sow seeds on the surface of moist, lime-free compost in shade. Germination may take one to two months at 20°C. Good airflow and careful watering help protect young plants. Keep seedlings under glass through their first winter. Plant them outside in late spring or early summer.