About this product

Gaultheria procumbens 'Big Berry'® – 2 Litre Pot

Gaultheria procumbens BIG BERRY ('Gaubi')

Supplied in a 2 litre pot

Plant Highlights: Large, glossy scarlet-red berries • Low-growing evergreen foliage • Attractive reddish winter leaf tones • Delicate white to pale pink summer flowers • Excellent for shaded containers and acidic-soil planting

Overview

Gaultheria procumbens 'Big Berry'®, commonly known as wintergreen or checkerberry, is a dwarf evergreen shrub grown for its particularly eye-catching display of large, bright red berries. Small, bell-shaped flowers in white to soft pink appear during summer, followed by rounded scarlet berries that develop in autumn and can remain decorative well into winter. Its glossy, leathery green leaves often take on rich reddish or bronze tones as temperatures fall, adding another layer of seasonal colour.

Unlike taller berrying shrubs, 'Big Berry' stays close to the ground, forming a neat, spreading carpet of foliage. Its naturally low habit makes it especially attractive at the front of shaded borders, beneath taller acid-loving shrubs and in autumn or winter patio arrangements. The contrast between the vivid berries and dark evergreen leaves provides a distinctive seasonal display without requiring a large planting space.

Why We Love It

• Extra-large berries: The rounded scarlet fruits, approximately 10mm across, are a defining feature of this selection and stand out against the compact foliage.

• Colour through the colder months: The berries provide autumn and winter interest while the leaves can develop attractive reddish tones.

• Naturally low-growing: Its creeping habit makes it useful where a taller shrub would overwhelm the planting.

• Delicate summer flowers: Small, nodding, bell-shaped blooms provide a softer display before the colourful berries develop.

• Beautiful with acid-loving plants: Combines particularly well with heathers, compact rhododendrons and other plants suited to moist, acidic soil.

Plant Details

Growing Guide

Position

Choose a position in partial shade or dappled shade, ideally where the plant is protected from strong afternoon sunshine. A woodland-style border, sheltered courtyard or north- or east-facing planting area can provide suitable conditions.

'Big Berry' can tolerate deeper shade, although adequate light helps support healthy growth and flowering. Avoid hot, dry locations where the shallow root system may struggle to retain sufficient moisture.

Watering

Water thoroughly after planting and maintain evenly moist soil while the plant establishes. During dry weather, check the soil regularly and water before the root area dries out completely.

Established plants benefit from additional watering during prolonged dry spells, particularly beneath trees or shrubs where roots compete for moisture.

Container-grown plants need closer attention in warm or windy conditions. Check the compost by touch and water when the surface begins to dry, allowing excess water to drain freely.

Rainwater is particularly useful where tap water is hard, as repeated watering with alkaline water can gradually affect compost conditions.

Soil and Compost

Gaultheria grows best in acidic, humus-rich soil that holds moisture while allowing excess water to drain away. Slightly acidic conditions are particularly beneficial for maintaining healthy foliage.

For garden planting, improve suitable soil with leaf mould or well-rotted organic matter. Avoid heavily limed, chalky or strongly alkaline ground.

For containers, use a quality peat-free ericaceous compost in a pot with drainage holes. A shallow layer of leaf mould or fine bark mulch can help retain moisture and keep the roots cool.

Hardiness and Winter Care

'Big Berry' is a cold-hardy evergreen shrub, with an RHS H5 rating indicating tolerance of approximately -15°C to -10°C in suitable conditions.

It is well suited to many Irish gardens, provided the roots are not left in saturated soil for extended periods. During wet winters, free drainage is important, particularly in heavy clay soils.

Container-grown plants may benefit from a sheltered position during prolonged severe frost. Avoid allowing the compost to become either completely dry or waterlogged during winter.

Routine Care and Pruning

Very little pruning is required. Remove dead or damaged stems when necessary and lightly trim any unwanted spreading shoots to keep the plant within its allotted space.

'Big Berry' spreads gradually through creeping stems and underground growth, so allow room for it to develop naturally when used as ground cover.

Apply a suitable ericaceous fertiliser sparingly in spring if growth is weak or the plant is growing in a container. Avoid excessive feeding, which is unnecessary for this naturally compact shrub.

An annual mulch of leaf mould or fine bark can help conserve moisture and maintain favourable soil conditions.

Perfect For

• Autumn and winter patio pots: The large red berries provide a colourful seasonal feature against glossy evergreen foliage.

• Woodland-style borders: Its low, spreading habit is particularly useful beneath taller shrubs in moist, acidic soil.

• Front-of-border planting: Creates a neat carpet of foliage without hiding plants behind it.

• Acid-loving planting schemes: Pairs naturally with heathers, dwarf rhododendrons and other ericaceous shrubs.

• Shaded courtyards and small gardens: Provides seasonal berry colour in positions where many sun-loving shrubs are less suitable.

Good to Know

'Big Berry' is grown primarily for its ornamental berries rather than its small summer flowers. Berry production follows successful flowering and pollination, so the number of berries can vary between growing seasons. The fruits are decorative and should not be treated as an edible crop.

Although compact in height, this is a spreading shrub rather than a permanently tight mound. Allow room for its creeping growth, or trim unwanted shoots occasionally to keep it within a container or planting area.

Product Information

• Product: Gaultheria procumbens 'Big Berry'®

• Botanical Cultivar: 'Gaubi'

• Trade Name: BIG BERRY®

• Pot Size: 2 litre

• Supplied Format: Potted evergreen shrub

• Product Barcode / SKU: 8718886003474