Partridgeberry in a Pear Tree? Not exactly...

Partridgeberry

Mitchella repens

This trailing, evergreen herb has white, fragrant, tubular flowers in pairs. Partridgeberry is a creeping, perennial herb that grows up to 2 in. high. It’s smallish, including its pairs of little, rounded, evergreen leaves; tiny, trumpet-shaped, pinkish-white flowers; and scarlet berries.
A most attractive woodland creeper with highly ornamental foliage, it can be used as a groundcover under acid-loving shrubs and in containers in the winter. The common name implies that the scarlet fruits are relished by partridges, and they are consumed by a variety of birds and mammals. 


Partridgeberry brightens the drab forest floor in fall and winter, its mats of evergreen leaves and scarlet fruits hugging the ground.  This cheerful creeper can easily live in residential yards, where partridgeberry is used in rock gardens and as ornamental ground cover under shrubs, thriving especially in acid soil. Some gardeners consider Partridgeberry a must for winter gardens. During the cold days of late winter Partridgeberry is a treat to the eyes with its deep, dark-green leaves and occasional scarlet berries. In a garden setting this evergreen prefers shade, accepting the morning sun. They will form a thick, substantial ground cover. Once established, they are relatively trouble free with the only required maintenance of keeping garden debris from covering the mats.


The twin white flowers that adorn the ends of partridgeberry stems merge to form a single fruit. The low fat content of the fruits makes them resistant to rotting, so that they stay intact on the branches late into winter and are available to nourish wildlife when other foods are lacking.


Partridgeberry is a native American plant, and the name squaw vine comes from its use among the Indians. Partridgeberry is a distinctively Native American plant. Its nickname - squaw vine - was coined by colonists who saw Native American women using it. Although primarily employed in a medicinal capacity, partridgeberry had additional uses among various tribes, including the following: as a love potion, as a ceremonial smoke, and as a food. The fruits were eaten either raw or dried and in sauces, breads, and cakes.