# Eastern Teaberry (*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! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 25 - **Habitat:** Forests - **Also known as:** Wintergreen ![Eastern Teaberry](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Gaultheria_procumbens.JPG&width=800) Photo: LGPL · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gaultheria_procumbens.JPG) ## Appearance 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Ericales - **Family:** Ericaceae - **Genus:** Gaultheria ## Interesting facts - 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! ## Special abilities - **Evergreen Armor:** Eastern Teaberry has tough, waxy leaves that stay green all year, helping it make food even in winter! - **Minty Magic:** This plant produces a special minty oil in its leaves that helps protect it from hungry nibblers. - **Winter Snack Bar:** Its bright red berries stay on the plant through winter, providing food for animals when other snacks are scarce. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 5-15 cm - **Spread:** 30-100 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.5-1 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late spring to mid-summer - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [White-tailed Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — eats leaves and twigs - **Eaten by:** Wild Turkey (*Meleagris gallopavo*) — eats its berries - **Eaten by:** [Ruffed Grouse](https://www.snappit.app/explore/ruffed-grouse) (*Bonasa umbellus*) — eats its berries - **Pollinates:** Common Eastern Bumblebee (*Bombus impatiens*) — collects nectar from flowers ## Traits - [Aromatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aromatic): Aromatic plants produce and emit fragrant volatile organic compounds, often for defense or to attract pollinators. - [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight. - [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground. - [Evergreen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/evergreen): Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Fruit Bearing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fruit-bearing): Fruit-bearing plants produce fruits, which are the mature ovaries of flowering plants containing seeds. - [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always check with an adult before tasting any berries or plants. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Eastern Teaberry? Compare how the fruit is clustered, the leaves and their arrangement, the stems and any thorns. Red, blue and black fruits grow on lots of unrelated plants, and the same color can show up on both edible and poisonous species. Berry Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Eastern Teaberry? 5-15 cm ### How wide does Eastern Teaberry spread? 30-100 cm ### How big are the flowers on Eastern Teaberry? 0.5-1 cm ### When does Eastern Teaberry bloom? Late spring to mid-summer ### Is Eastern Teaberry edible? Yes ### Is Eastern Teaberry toxic? Mild ### What is Eastern Teaberry's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Bald Eagle State Forest](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bald-eagle-state-forest) — Pennsylvania, US · Forest - [Currier Park Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/currier-park-historic-district) — Vermont, US · Historic District - [Five Channels Dam](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/five-channels-dam) — Michigan, US · Historic Site - [Hedgesville Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/hedgesville-historic-district) — West Virginia, US · Historic District - [Kennebunkport Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/kennebunkport-historic-district) — Maine, US · Historic District - [Oak Knoll Wildlife Sanctuary](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/oak-knoll-wildlife-sanctuary) — Massachusetts, US · Nature Reserve [View all places to see Eastern Teaberry](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/eastern-teaberry) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Eastern Teaberry: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-teaberry)