Plant Details

Gaultheria procumbens

Checkerberry, Eastern teaberry, Teaberry, Creeping Wintergreen

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Common names

37 names · 17 languages
EnglishYour language
  • aromatic wintergreen[2]
  • berried tea[2]
  • Checkerberry[2]
+15 more namesShow fewer names
  • chickerberry[2]
  • clink[2]
  • Creeping Wintergreen[2]
  • Eastern teaberry[1][2]
  • ginger-leaf[2]
  • ginger-plum[2]
  • ivory plum[2]
  • red pollom[2]
  • roxberry[2]
  • Teaberry
  • trailing gaultheria[2]
  • wax cluster[2]
  • winterberry[2]
  • Wintergreen[2]
  • woodsman's tea[2]
Other languages (16)
Dutch
  • Bergthee[2]
  • Liggende bergthee
French
  • Gaulthérie couchée
  • thé des bois[2]
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 美东茶莓[2]
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 美東茶莓[2]
Czech
  • libavka poléhavá[2]
Danish
  • Nedliggende bjergte[2]
Estonian
  • lamav talihali[2]
Finnish
  • lamosalali[2]
German
  • Niedere Scheinbeere[2]
Japanese
  • チェッカーベリー[2]
  • 姫柑子[2]
Ojibwe
  • Wiinsibak (Wiinisiibag, Owinîsi'mîn)[2]
Polish
  • golteria rozesłana[2]
Russian
  • Гольтерия лежачая[2]
Slovak
  • gaultéria ležatá[2]
Swedish
  • tuvvaktelbär[2]
Ukrainian
  • Гольтерія лежача[2]
Sources & name notes (2)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Gaultheria procumbens L. ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • Eastern teaberry (EN) — VernacularName.tsv, line 153407; taxon 6JZCD.
[2] Gaultheria procumbens — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Eastern Teaberry — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 62376; Gaultheria procumbens.
  • Wintergreen — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 62376; Gaultheria procumbens.
  • Nedliggende bjergte — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 62376; Gaultheria procumbens.
  • libavka poléhavá — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 62376; Gaultheria procumbens.
  • Checkerberry — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 62376; Gaultheria procumbens.
  • Niedere Scheinbeere — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 62376; Gaultheria procumbens.
  • Wiinsibak (Wiinisiibag, Owinîsi'mîn) — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 62376; Gaultheria procumbens.
  • lamav talihali — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 62376; Gaultheria procumbens.
  • tuvvaktelbär — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 62376; Gaultheria procumbens.
  • thé des bois — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 62376; Gaultheria procumbens.
  • 美东茶莓 — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 62376; Gaultheria procumbens.
  • 美東茶莓 — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 62376; Gaultheria procumbens.
  • Гольтерия лежачая — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 62376; Gaultheria procumbens.
  • ginger-plum — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 62376; Gaultheria procumbens.
  • ginger-leaf — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 62376; Gaultheria procumbens.
  • chickerberry — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 62376; Gaultheria procumbens.
  • winterberry — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 62376; Gaultheria procumbens.
  • red pollom — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 62376; Gaultheria procumbens.
  • roxberry — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 62376; Gaultheria procumbens.
  • trailing gaultheria — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 62376; Gaultheria procumbens.
  • clink — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 62376; Gaultheria procumbens.
  • wax cluster — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 62376; Gaultheria procumbens.
  • ivory plum — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 62376; Gaultheria procumbens.
  • berried tea — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 62376; Gaultheria procumbens.
  • woodsman's tea — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 62376; Gaultheria procumbens.
  • aromatic wintergreen — results[0].names[27]; taxon id 62376; Gaultheria procumbens.
  • creeping wintergreen — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 62376; Gaultheria procumbens.
  • Bergthee — results[0].names[29]; taxon id 62376; Gaultheria procumbens.
  • golteria rozesłana — results[0].names[30]; taxon id 62376; Gaultheria procumbens.
  • lamosalali — results[0].names[31]; taxon id 62376; Gaultheria procumbens.
  • チェッカーベリー — results[0].names[32]; taxon id 62376; Gaultheria procumbens.
  • 姫柑子 — results[0].names[33]; taxon id 62376; Gaultheria procumbens.
  • gaultéria ležatá — results[0].names[34]; taxon id 62376; Gaultheria procumbens.
  • Гольтерія лежача — results[0].names[35]; taxon id 62376; Gaultheria procumbens.

General information

Scientific name: Gaultheria procumbens
Accepted name (Kew): Gaultheria procumbens L. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Ericaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Gaultheria (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Checkerberry, Eastern teaberry, Teaberry, Creeping Wintergreen
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Herbaceous, Ground cover
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 0.1–0.2 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Spread: 0.15–0.3 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Growth rate: Slow
Sources [3]
Foliage: Evergreen
Sources [3]
Growth habit: Creeping, Erect, Spreading

Whole-plant habit and form as described by NC State.

Sources [3]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b

USDA zones listed by NC State; winter survival does not establish reliable cropping.

Sources [3]
Soil moisture:
Well-drained, Moist, Occasionally Dry

Moisture and drainage conditions listed by NC State.

Sources [3]
Soil:
Clay, High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt)
Sources [3]
pH:
Acid (<6.0)
Sources [3]
Light:
Dappled Sunlight, Deep shade, Partial Shade
Sources [3]

Uses

Edible parts:
Fruit, Leaves, Condiment, Tea
Edibility rating:
(4)
Medicinal rating:
(3)
Functions:
Essential oil, Ground cover

Description

Fruit: eaten raw or cooked. The fruit has a strong and spicy flavor, and tastes best after the frost period. The fruits remain on the trees until spring, unless they are eaten earlier by birds and other animals. The fruits are also suitable for use in pies, jams, and other dishes. They have a diameter of 15 mm. Young leaves are edible when raw. They taste best when they are still very young and have a dry and powdery flavor. Fresh leaves can be used to make a tasty tea. Fermenting the leaves can make the tea stronger. Additionally, the leaves can be used to make evergreen oil. Moreover, the leaves are used to enhance the flavor of beer, candy, chewing gum, and other products.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/09
Harvest ends: 31/10

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 807078; name ID 2817706; Gaultheria Kalm ex L.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 1395975; name ID 2817983; Gaultheria procumbens L..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Gaultheria procumbens

    Taxonomic data from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 2183322, ID 6JZCD: Gaultheria procumbens L. (accepted).

    Source checked on .

  3. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Gaultheria procumbens — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: HeightSpreadGrowth rateFoliageGrowth habitLightSoil moistureSoil textureSoil pHUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 0 ft. 4 in. - 0 ft. 8 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Light: Light
    • Soil moisture: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .