# partridgeberry (*Mitchella repens*) Partridgeberry is a small, creeping plant with shiny green leaves and pretty red berries. It grows close to the ground and loves shady spots in the forest. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 101 - **Habitat:** Forests ![partridgeberry](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Mitchella_repens_-_Flickr_-_pellaea_%282%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: Jason Hollinger, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mitchella_repens_-_Flickr_-_pellaea_%282%29.jpg) ## Appearance The partridgeberry is a low-growing, creeping evergreen vine with small, round, glossy dark green leaves. It produces tiny, fragrant white flowers that appear in pairs, followed by bright scarlet red berries that often last through winter. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Gentianales - **Family:** Rubiaceae - **Genus:** Mitchella ## Interesting facts - Each partridgeberry is actually made from two tiny flowers that fused together! - Its scientific name, \*Mitchella repens\*, means it 'creeps' like a little explorer. - Native Americans used partridgeberry to make medicines for various ailments. - The berries often stay on the plant all winter, looking like tiny red ornaments! ## Special abilities - **Winter Snack Bar:** Partridgeberry's bright red berries can stay on the plant all winter, helping birds find food when other sources are scarce. - **Twin Power Blooms:** This plant has two tiny flowers joined at the base, which allows for special cross-pollination to make extra-strong seeds. - **Ground Hugger:** Partridgeberry spreads across the ground, forming a dense mat that helps it survive harsh weather and strong winds. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 2-5 cm - **Spread:** 15-60 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.5-1 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late spring to early summer - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Cedar Waxwing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cedar-waxwing) (*Bombycilla cedrorum*) — eats its persistent berries - **Pollinates:** European Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — collects nectar from flowers - **Eaten by:** [White-tailed Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — browses its evergreen leaves ## Traits - [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. - [Evergreen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/evergreen): Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once. - [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. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Fall Color](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fall-color): Fall color refers to the seasonal change in foliage pigmentation, primarily in deciduous plants, displaying vibrant hues. - [Rapid Growing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rapid-growing): Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period. - [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 look but don't eat wild berries unless a grown-up says it's safe. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify partridgeberry? 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 partridgeberry? 2-5 cm ### How wide does partridgeberry spread? 15-60 cm ### How big are the flowers on partridgeberry? 0.5-1 cm ### When does partridgeberry bloom? Late spring to early summer ### Is partridgeberry edible? Yes ### Is partridgeberry toxic? None ### What is partridgeberry's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Ashley River Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ashley-river-historic-district) — South Carolina, US · Historic District - [Bald Eagle State Forest](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bald-eagle-state-forest) — Pennsylvania, US · Forest - [Bean Hill Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bean-hill-historic-district) — Connecticut, US · Historic District - [Bear Swamp](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bear-swamp) — Massachusetts, US · Nature Reserve - [Brattleboro Downtown Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/brattleboro-downtown-historic-district) — Vermont, US · Historic District - [Buchanan State Forest](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/buchanan-state-forest) — Pennsylvania, US · Forest [View all places to see partridgeberry](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/partridgeberry) ## 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: [Partridgeberry: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/partridgeberry)