Partridgeberry is a beautiful, trailing, evergreen, mat-forming woody vine, no taller than two inches, reported in all states of eastern North America, and thriving in our piedmont Oak Hickory forest understory. Its leaves are rounded, paired, rich dark green with white markings, 1/2 to 3/4-inch long. Its tiny white, fragrant, tubular flowers occur in pairs also, in May to July. The two flowers are fused at the base and produce a single bright scarlet berry in the late summer/fall. The berries, and the flowers as well, are very visually appealing and stand out boldly against the dark green, rounded leaves. Partridgeberry will thrive under acid-loving shrubs in rich woodland soils, rooting at the nodes, and is a must for a shady rock garden. Partridgeberry will tolerate dry soil and dense shade if it is undisturbed. The berries are edible and support birds and small mammals in the winter.
