Life Span
Perennial
  
Annual and Perennial
  
Type
Broadleaf Evergreen
  
Broadleaf Evergreen
  
Origin
Argentina, Chile
  
China
  
Types
Not available
  
Not Available
  
Habitat
Hardwood forests, pine woods
  
Lowland, shaded fields, Shaded sites, Slopes, Subtropical climates
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
7-9
  
7-99
  
AHS Heat Zone
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Sunset Zone
21,22
  
21,22
  
Habit
Spreading
  
Oval or Rounded
  
Plant Size
  
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
White, Light Pink
  
White
  
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
White, Purple, Rose, Violet, Plum, Black
  
Dark Blue, Black
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Dark Green
  
Gray Green, Dark Green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
  
Dark Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green
  
Gray Green, Dark Green
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Dark Green, Bronze
  
Gray Green, Dark Green
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Ovate
  
Oval
  
Thorns
No
  
No
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
  
Growth Rate
Medium
  
Slow
  
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Drainage
Average
  
Well drained
  
Bloom Time
Late Spring
  
Early Spring, Late Winter
  
Repeat Bloomer
No
  
No
  
Tolerances
Drought, Salt
  
Drought
  
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
  
Ground, Pot
  
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Semi-hardwood cuttings
  
Seedlings, Vegetative Reproduction
  
Plant Maintenance
Low
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs
  
Allow soil to be completely dry in between waterings, Requires watering in the growing season, Water Deeply, Water deeply about once a week
  
In Summer
Lots of watering
  
Lots of watering
  
In Spring
Moderate
  
Moderate
  
In Winter
Average Water
  
Average Water
  
Soil
  
  
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
  
Well drained
  
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
  
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead flowers, Remove dead leaves
  
Do not prune during shooting season, No pruning needed in the early stages, Prune to stimulate growth, Remove dead or diseased plant parts, Remove deadheads, Shape and thin as needed
  
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Nitrogen
  
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
Pests and Diseases
Bacterial fruit blotch, Downy mildew, Gall Insects, Mites, Powdery mildew
  
Pests and diseases free
  
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Shade areas
  
Drought
  
Flowers
Showy
  
Showy
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
Yes
  
Not Available
  
Edible Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
No
  
Yes
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
Yes
  
No
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Medium
  
Fine
  
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
  
Glossy
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
No
  
No
  
Self-Sowing
Yes
  
No
  
Attracts
Birds, Insects
  
Bees
  
Allergy
Hives, inflammation in lips, Sore Throat, Swelling in the face
  
no allergic reactions
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
  
Beautification
  
Beauty Benefits
Glowing Skin, Good for skin
  
Not Available
  
Edible Uses
Yes
  
Yes
  
Environmental Uses
Food for animals, Food for birds
  
Air purification
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Analgesic, Anodyne, Antirheumatic, Antispasmodic, Astringent, Carminative
  
Antioxidants
  
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Leaves, Stem
  
Flowers, Fruits, Leaf Stalks, Leaves
  
Other Uses
For making oil, For making oil for cosmetics, Medicinal oil, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties
  
Culinary use, Used for fragrance, Used for producing cooking oil, Used as a spice
  
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Container, Edging, Foundation, Hedges, Mixed Border
  
Feature Plant, Foundation, Hedges, Mixed Border
  
Botanical Name
Gaultheria procumbens
  
OSMANTHUS delavayi
  
Common Name
Eastern teaberry, checkerberry, American wintergreen
  
Sweet Olive
Tea Olive
Fragrant Olive
  
In Hindi
boxberry
  
चाय ओलिव
  
In German
boxberry
  
Tea Olive
  
In French
boxberry
  
Tea Olive
  
In Spanish
boxberry
  
té verde oliva
  
In Greek
boxberry
  
τσάι Ελιάς
  
In Portuguese
boxberry
  
Tea Olive
  
In Polish
boxberry
  
Herbata z oliwek
  
In Latin
Burning
  
Tea Olive
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
  
Magnoliophyta
  
Class
Magnoliopsida
  
Magnoliopsida
  
Order
Ericales
  
Lamiales
  
Family
Ericaceae
  
Oleaceae
  
Genus
Gaultheria
  
Osmanthus
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
  
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
  
Tribe
Gaultherieae
  
Not Available
  
Subfamily
Vaccinioideae
  
Not Available
  
Number of Species
Not Available