Gaultheria Procumbens "Wintergreen" is a groundcover typically growing to about five inches in height.  It is an ornamental, a medicinal and a flavoring herb.  The name wintergreen derives from the fact that the plant remains green throughout the winter.  The glossy green foliage is aromatic, and its essential oil is used as a flavoring in teas, toothpastes, candies and gums.  The active ingredient that gives the plant its flavor is called methyl salicylate. An infusion made of 1 teaspoon of leaves is used medicinally for a variety of ailments including stomach problems and arthritic pain. The plant's shiny red berries are a favorite food of deer and other animals.  They too contain good concentrations of methyl salicylate and resemble those of the holly tree, another glossy-leaved evergreen.  The berries survive throughout the winter with white bell-shaped flowers forming from May through September. 

8 SEEDS