Common Name: Spotted Wintergreen

General Information

Spotted wintergreen is a low-growing, spreading, evergreen shrub producing stems 10 - 20cm tall.
The plant is sometimes harvested from the wild and used locally as a food and medicine. It is sometimes grown as an ornamental, where it can be used as a ground cover.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

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Range

C. America - Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala; Eastern N. America - Illinois to Michigan and Ontario, south to Mexico and Florida.

Habitat

Rich woods[]. Dry woods[]. Mostly in pine-oak forest at elevations of 1,300 - 2,500 metres in Guatemala[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	0.15 m
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant mainly of the temperate zone, also growing at higher elevations in the tropics of Central America.
Requires a light moist but well-drained lime-free soil and shade from direct sunlight[].
This species is difficult to propagate and grow in cultivation, mainly because it has certain mycorrhizal associations in the wild and these are necessary if the plant is to thrive[]. It is best to use some soil collected from around an established plant when sowing seed or planting out into a new position[].
The plant has wide-spreading fibrous feeding roots and will often die or fail to increase in size if these are disturbed.
The flowers are deliciously scented[].

Edible Uses

The leaves are used as a snack, being nibbled for their refreshing qualities[, ].

In Mexico the herb is used as a catalyst in the preparation of 'tesguino', an alcoholic beverage produced from sprouted maize[].

Medicinal

The plant is analgesic, antibacterial, astringent, diaphoretic, diuretic, febrifuge, rubefacient, stimulant and tonic[, , , ]. The plant has an antiseptic influence on the urinary system and is sometimes used in the treatment of cystitis[]. An infusion of the plant has been drunk in the treatment of rheumatism and colds[].
Applied externally, a poultice of the root has been used to treat pain[] whilst the plant has also been used as a wash on ulcers, scrofula and cancers[].
All parts of the plant can be used, though only the leaves are officinal[].

The plant is loaded with the biologically active compounds arbutin, sitosterol and ursolic acid[]. Arbutin hydrolyzes to the toxic urinary antiseptic hydroquinone[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The plants stoloniferous root system, and dwarf spreading habit make it a god ground cover, though it is a difficult plant to establish and grow well[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - very difficult to germinate, see the notes in cultivation details. It is best sown on moist sphagnum peat. As soon as they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a shady position in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.
Division. Rather difficult because the plant is very sensitive to root disturbance. It is best attempted in the spring as the plant comes into growth[].
Cuttings of softwood, June in a frame. Use some soil from around an established plant[].

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