The Teaberry Plant | A Native to New England

Teaberry plants are almost everywhere in New England and are usually at their peak in mid-October! If you have ever spent time walking in the woods in New England, chances are you have stumbled across or even walked upon teaberry plants. If you are native to New England, you may even have fond memories of searching for and gathering the mild-tasting berries that grow from the small groundcover plants. Teaberry leaves were used commercially in the making of Teaberry chewing gum — one of the first chewing gums marketed in the United States at around 1900 —which is still available today. For centuries, Teaberries have also been used medicinally and as a flavoring for candies, herbal remedies, tea, and even wine.

The Teaberry plant is an evergreen species native to New England as well as other areas of the Northeastern parts of the United States and Canada. It grows in shady and wet woodland areas where ferns, mushrooms, and moss thrive. It has small, rounded, semi-shiny leaves and bears tiny bell-shaped white flowers that mature into red berries that sometimes have a pinkish hue. The berries are typically the size and shape of a pea, though they are firmer than most berries and have a mealy texture with a light, yet fragrant scent and an understated berry flavor with a hint of warm mint and spice undertone.

This versatile and easy-growing plant is being used more and more in landscapes, particularly in New England and other areas to which it is native. Perfect for gardeners who want to mimic their natural surroundings and grow plants in their gardens that incorporate and work with their environment seamlessly.

Because the Teaberry plant stores moisture and grows best in shaded areas, it requires very little, if any, watering once established. The trailing leaves can also be easily trained to climb around stakes or garden statues. Teaberry plants are also a great choice for a terrarium plant.

 Teaberry Planting and Growing Instructions

1.  Planting time for the Tea Berry is in the late spring.
2. Choose a partially shaded area with well-drained, yet rich soil.
3. Transfer healthy, newly dug up plants with a generous root system to the shaded area and plant as deep as the roots allow without being stretched. If you are planting from seeds instead, plant the seeds 2-3 inches deep and be sure to leave at least 4 inches of space for growth in between the seeds.
4. Keep the soil consistently moist. Expect germination to begin in approximately 6-8 weeks. Once established, the Teaberry will spread on its own and require little if any care.

This post was first published in 2013 and has been updated.

Shelley Wigglesworth

Shelley (Fleming) Wigglesworth is an award-winning freelance journalist from Maine and a certified Maine Master Gardener who writes gardening articles on a regular basis for NewEngland.com. Her work can be found in the following publications: The Village Magazine, York County Coast Star, Yankee Magazine (online), National Fisherman Magazine, Commercial Fisheries News, Points East Magazine, Coastal Angler Magazine and The Maine Lobstermen's Association's "Landings."

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