Wintergreen

Familiar aroma used in mouthwash, toothpaste and chewing gum! This charming low growing evergreen woodland shrub produces white nodding bell shaped blossoms that eventually transform into bright red berries which remain and offer snacks to wildlife over winter. Glossy wintergreen scented foliage turns purple in fall. Makes an excellent shady ground cover! Oil extracts have been shown have powerful antimicrobial and antioxidant effects. The chemical constituent methyl salicylate, found in its oils work similarly to aspirin and can be used as an anti-inflammatory. In the past, leaves have been used topically as a poultice to relieve arthritic pain. Wintergreen seeds are naturally dormant and require a cold treatment to induce germination. We recommend a cold period of 60 days followed by a warm period during which germination will begin. Artificial cold treatment can be applied by sowing seeds in a seed box and storing in a fridge at 5°C for the 60 day period. The key is for the seeds and the surrounding sowing medium to be moist during this cold treatment. To naturally emulate stratification, sow seeds in a flat and bury the flat mid summer to early fall so that surface is flush with surrounding area. Take care to allow light through by covering lightly with mulch to protect the soil surface from drying out until spring. Remove mulch in spring. Height 6 inches.