



Gaultheria procumbens
Eastern Teaberry is a small plant with shiny green leaves and bright red berries. It grows close to the ground and loves shady spots in the forest. The berries are sweet and can be used to make tasty treats!
Habitat: Forests
The Eastern Teaberry is a low-growing plant with shiny, dark green leaves that often turn reddish-purple in winter. Its small, white or pale pink, bell-shaped flowers bloom in summer, followed by bright red, round berries that persist through the colder months.




Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Even when covered by snow, its green leaves continue to make food for the plant!
Its berries have a surprising minty, sweet taste, like a forest candy!
Native Americans once used its crushed leaves as a natural pain reliever.
The famous 'wintergreen' flavor in candies and toothpaste comes from this plant!
Eastern Teaberry has tough, waxy leaves that stay green all year, helping it make food even in winter!
This plant produces a special minty oil in its leaves that helps protect it from hungry nibblers.
Its bright red berries stay on the plant through winter, providing food for animals when other snacks are scarce.

Odocoileus virginianus
eats leaves and twigs
Meleagris gallopavo
eats its berries

Bonasa umbellus
eats its berries
Bombus impatiens
collects nectar from flowers
Aromatic plants produce and emit fragrant volatile organic compounds, often for defense or to attract pollinators.
Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight.
A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground.
Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once.
Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.
Fruit-bearing plants produce fruits, which are the mature ovaries of flowering plants containing seeds.
Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health.
Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.
Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Always check with an adult before tasting any berries or plants.
5-15 cm
30-100 cm
0.5-1 cm
Late spring to mid-summer
Yes
Mild
Perennial
Insect
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New York, US
You might spot Northern Fungus-Farming Ant and Bronzed Tiger Beetle.
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Pennsylvania, US
You might spot Partridgeberry, Eastern Hemlock, and American Beech.
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New Jersey, US
You might spot Pitch Pine, Duck, and Gallberry.
View guide →

North Carolina, US
You might spot American Turkey Oak, Longleaf Pine, and Spiny Spikemoss.
View guide →