Partridge Berry Mitchella repens is a Michigan Native plant available at Wild Cherry Farm
Partridge Berry Mitchella repens is a Michigan Native plant available at Wild Cherry Farm

Partridge Berry (Mitchella repens)

$5.00

Partridge Berry flowers attract bumblebees who cross-pollinate and get some nectar in return. There do not seem to be many insects that feed on its foliage. Some game birds eat the fruits, including the Ruffed Grouse, Bobwhite Quail, and Wild Turkey. Mammals, like Red Fox, Eastern Skunk, Eastern Chipmunk, White-Footed Mouse, and Woodland Deer Mouse also feed on the fruits. These animals help to spread the seeds to new locations (illinoiswildflower.info). Partridge Berry is the only species of its genus in North America. It is a low-growing, evergreen ground cover that likes some shade and likes its soil a little acidic.

Photo credit: Joshua Mayer

Partridge Berry flowers attract bumblebees who cross-pollinate and get some nectar in return. There do not seem to be many insects that feed on its foliage. Some game birds eat the fruits, including the Ruffed Grouse, Bobwhite Quail, and Wild Turkey. Mammals, like Red Fox, Eastern Skunk, Eastern Chipmunk, White-Footed Mouse, and Woodland Deer Mouse also feed on the fruits. These animals help to spread the seeds to new locations (illinoiswildflower.info). Partridge Berry is the only species of its genus in North America. It is a low-growing, evergreen ground cover that likes some shade and likes its soil a little acidic.

Photo credit: Joshua Mayer

Life Cycle: Perennial

Sun Exposure: Light shade-Partial sun

Soil Moisture: Medium, Medium-dry

Height: 1-4 inches

Plant Spacing: Trailing ground cover

Bloom Time: Mid spring-Early Summer

Bloom Color: White

Advantages: Deer Resistant, Nice non-aggressive ground cover, Great Landscape Plant

Companion Plants: Canada mayflower (Maianthemum canadense), huckleberry (Gaylussacia spp.), American wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens), eastern white pine (Pinus strobus), trillium (Trillium spp.)