Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Gaultheria ovatifolia is a species of shrub in the heath family which is known by the common names western teaberry and Oregon spicy wintergreen. It is native to western North America from British Columbia to California, where it grows in high mountain forests. This is a small, low shrub with stems only about 35 centimeters in maximum length. The pointed, oval-shaped leaves are 2 to 3 centimeters long and green. The plant bears small, solitary bell-shaped flowers in shades of white to very light pink with reddish leafs. The flowers hang like tiny bells. The fruit is a red berrylike capsule. It was a food for the Hoh and Quileute of the Pacific Northwest.

Plant type

Shrub

Size

1 ft Tall

Calscape icon
Color

Pink, White, Red

Special uses

Groundcover

Sun

Partial Shade

Sunset Zones

1, 2, 4*, 5*, 6, 14, 15, 16, 17

Site type

Wet places

Plant communities

Douglas-Fir Forest, Yellow Pine Forest, Wetland-Riparian

Caterpillars
Butterflies

Butterflies and moths supported

0 confirmed and 3 likely

Confirmed Likely

The Brown Elfin

Callophrys augustinus

Canary Ypsolopha Moth

Ypsolopha canariella