Mitchella undulata

Mitchella undulata is a low evergreen in the Rubiaceae family. Kew classes it as a subshrub. Plants For A Future describes it as a perennial. Its native range lies in temperate East Asia. This includes Zhejiang in China, South Korea, Taiwan, and Japan. It also reaches the southern Kuril Islands. It grows on wooded hillsides with sandy ground. It is not native to Britain or Ireland.

The plant reaches about 0.33 feet (0.1 metres) in height. Its spread reaches about 1.6 feet (0.5 metres). It keeps its leaves through the year. Its stems take root as they spread across the ground. This growth forms a low carpet, useful beneath woodland cover. For ground cover, space plants about 1 foot (0.3 metres) apart. The supplied species account gives no leaf shape or bark details.

Flowers appear from June to July. Each flower has both male and female organs. The fruit is edible, though the reported flavour is poor. Plants For A Future gives its food value one out of five. The evidence does not describe the fruit's size or colour. It lists no known hazards, but gives no pet-specific safety assessment. It also lists no known medicinal uses.

Choose moist soil that lets excess water drain away. The plant suits sandy or loamy ground. It favours peaty soil and needs lime-free conditions. Acid to neutral soil is suitable, including very acid ground. Some shade suits its cultivation needs. The account also lists growth in sites without shade. Woodland edges and dappled shade offer supported garden settings. Peat terraces provide another place to use its ground-cover habit. Plants For A Future lists USDA hardiness zones 5–9. It reports UK zone 6, without using an RHS H rating.

Propagation is possible through seed, cuttings, or rooted stem divisions. Divide stems that have rooted on their own in spring. Three months of cold treatment can help seed germinate. Remove fruit pulp before sowing, since it can hinder germination. Sow fresh seed in autumn, or stored seed early in the year. Keep young seedlings in a greenhouse through their first winter. Plant them out after the last expected frost. The supplied evidence names no specific pests or diseases. Plants For A Future does not flag the species as weedy.