Winter Splash Wintergreen

Winter Splash Wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens 'Winter Splash')

Winter Splash Wintergreen is a low, evergreen groundcover with cream variegated, glossy leaves, white bell flowers in summer, and bright red berries that persist into winter. Its compact, slowly spreading habit adds four-season color to shaded beds, paths, and containers.

Distinctive Features

Variegated foliage provides year-round contrast, fragrant wintergreen-scented leaves add sensory interest, and long-lasting red berries offer winter display and wildlife value.

Growing Conditions

• Sun Exposure: Partial shade to shade; morning sun is fine with consistent moisture.
• Soil: Acidic, moist, well drained, humus-rich soil; avoid alkaline or compacted sites.
• Water: Keep evenly moist; do not allow prolonged dryness, especially in containers.
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 7.
• Mature Size: About 0.25 to 0.5 ft tall and 0.5 to 1.5 ft wide, slowly spreading by short rhizomes.

Ideal Uses

• Focal Point: Variegated foliage and red berries brighten shaded entries and borders.
• Groundcover: Forms a tidy, evergreen carpet under shrubs and along paths.
• Containers: Year-round accent for shaded pots and winter porch displays.
• Woodland Edges: Fits naturalistic plantings with acid soil and leaf mulch.
• Winter Interest: Persistent berries and glossy foliage carry the off season.

Low Maintenance Care

• Watering: Maintain steady moisture; increase frequency during heat or wind.
• Pruning: Pinch runners to contain spread and remove winter-burned leaves in spring.
• Fertilizing: Top-dress in spring with compost or an acid-forming, slow-release fertilizer.
• Mulching: Apply a thin layer of pine needles or leaf mold to keep roots cool, keeping mulch off crowns.
• Notes: Generally deer resistant; protect from hot afternoon sun and high pH soils to prevent chlorosis.

Why Choose Winter Splash Wintergreen?

• Four-Season Appeal: Evergreen variegation, bloom, and persistent berries.
• Variegated Foliage: Cream-edged leaves add brightness in shade.
• Compact Habit: Low, slow spread fits edging and small gardens.
• Wildlife Friendly: Berries provide seasonal food for birds.
• Shade Solution: Thrives where many flowering plants struggle.

Site in acidic, well drained yet evenly moist soil with afternoon shade, and maintain a light pine mulch to keep plants dense, glossy, and berry-laden.