Partridge-berry Mitchella repens
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- my-CHEL-luh REE-penz
- Description
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Partridgeberry is an evergreen, perennial, woody herb that is a low growing, creeping delicate vine in the Rubiaceae (madder) family. It is found naturally in forests, stream-banks, on rotten logs, and in bottomlands and other wet habitats throughout eastern and central North America .
The stems run along the ground in a vine-like fashion often carpeting an area. The leaves are opposite with a smooth margin and white central vein. White, sometimes pinkish, flowers mature in summer. The sprawling herb produces a shiny, red berry with a tiny dimple and star-shaped marks.
This evergreen ground cover displays interesting foliage, flowers, and fruit. Plant in woodland/shade gardens, under trees and in part shade areas of border fronts and rock gardens. Also effective around small ponds. Many gardeners believe this ground cover is not appropriately aggressive for large areas and is best grown in smaller sites.
Fire Risk: This plant has a medium flammability rating.
Seasons of Interest:
Blooms: Summer Nut/Fruit/Seed: Late summer
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Mitchella
- Species:
- repens
- Family:
- Rubiaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- North America
- Fire Risk Rating:
- medium flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- Its fruits are eaten by songbirds, ruffed grouse, wild turkeys, quail, and small mammals.
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Food Source
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- This plant is moderately resistant to damage from deer.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 1 in. - 0 ft. 3 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 4 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herb
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Wildflower
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Creeping
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4b, 4a, 5b, 5a, 6b, 6a, 7a, 7b, 8b, 8a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- The flowers are subsequently followed by round, bright red berries that typically ripen in late summer (June-July) . A pair of flowers yields one berry, hence the additional common name of twinberry for this plant. The berries, which have a tiny dimple and star-shaped marks, are edible but rather tasteless. The berries often persist on the plants throughout winter. They are 1/4" long and 3/8" across.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- White
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Funnel
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- 1/2" long bloom in spring in pairs with a single calyx mostly at the stem ends. Fragrant, four-lobed, funnel tubular shape, hairy white petals which are lightly flushed with pink.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Cordate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Partridgeberry has oval to heart-shaped, opposite, glossy, dark green leaves (to 3/4” long, 1/2" wide) with whitish veins appear in pairs along the stems pale yellow midrib and below.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Twigs are very delicate and barely woody. They are pale green to brown in color. The stems root at nodes where they touch the ground.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Rock Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Attracts:
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Dry Soil
