Mitchella repens

Mitchella repens, also known as Partridge berry, is a curious creeping and prostrate bush that is still unfamiliar to gardeners. It is an interesting plant with persistent small foliage, which is a very shiny green with white veins. Over time, it forms a very elegant ground cover through its stems that root on the ground as they go. It is adorned with delicate white flowers, preceded by dark pink buds, followed by red berries that persist until late autumn. It is a good alternative to creeping cotoneaster to dress shaded and cool areas of the garden, in non-calcareous soil.

Mitchella repens belongs to the Rubiaceae family, and is a cousin of the coffee plant. It is native to the eastern part of North America, specifically a large area ranging from Minnesota to Nova Scotia and from Florida to Texas. It is found in damp to drier undergrowth, along watercourses or on sandy slopes. This bush is capable of withstanding very harsh winters. It has a prostrate, spreading, and creeping habit, supported by fairly short, stiff, and branched stems. Its growth is fairly slow, reaching a height of about 10cm (4in) with a spread of 1m (3ft) at maturity. Its foliage is composed of small, thick, and leathery leaves, opposite on the stems, oval or heart-shaped, not exceeding 1.5cm (1in) in length and 1cm (1in) in width. They are a very shiny green and traversed by almost white veins. Adventitious roots can develop at the nodes, allowing the plant to spread in width. Flowering takes place from May to July, in the form of tubular and fragrant flowers grouped in pairs in a common and hairy calyx. Each dark pink flower bud opens into a white flower with 4 petals measuring 1cm (1in) in diameter. They are honey-bearing and are followed by the formation of a few rare edible fruits called drupes, ripening in late summer. Certain birds and small mammals can consume them.

Mitchella repens is ideal for elegantly covering shaded areas of the garden throughout the year, bringing a very neat touch to them. While it can grow in fairly varied conditions, this bush does not appreciate limestone and excessively hot and dry climates. Perfect at the foot of a tall hedge, it can also be planted in a rockery to fill the spaces between other plants. Plant it on a large shady slope, above a wall, or at the edge of a terrace or an alley. Always place it in a non-burning exposure. It can be planted with Juniperus squamata 'Blue Star', Euonymus fortunei 'Emerald Gaiety', small perennials like hepatiques, or Berberis thunb. 'Atropurpurea Nana'.