Partridge Berry

Mitchella repens

Physical Characteristics

Mitchella repens is an evergreen Shrub growing to 0.1 m (0ft 4in) by 0.5 m (1ft 8in) at a slow rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 3. It is in leaf all year, in flower from June to July. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs). Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid and neutral soils and can grow in very acid soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

Distribution

N. America - Newfoundland to Florida, west to Texas and Minnesota.

Habitats

Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade; Ground Cover;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit Edible Uses: Tea Fruit - raw[2, 105, 161]. Pleasant and slightly aromatic[183]. Dry and tasteless, with lots of seeds according to another report[4]. The fruit hangs on well on the bush[1]. The fruit is about 8mm in diameter[200]. A tea is made from the leaves[207].

Medicinal Uses

Astringent Diuretic Hypnotic Oxytoxic Sedative Tonic Women's complaints Partridge berry was commonly used by several native North American Indian tribes as a parturient to hasten childbirth. It was also occasionally used to treat a variety of other complaints including insomnia, rheumatic pain and fluid retention[254]. It is still used in modern herbalism as an aid to childbirth and is also considered to have a tonic effect upon the uterus and the ovaries[254]. The herb is astringent, diuretic, hypnotic and tonic[4, 21, 102, 165, 192, 213]. Frequent doses of a tea made from the fresh or dried leaves were used by N. American Indian women in the weeks preceding childbirth in order to promote easy delivery[213, 222, 238]. This tea should not be used during the first six months of labour, however, since it can induce a miscarriage[238]. The tea is also used to treat delayed, painful or irregular menses[222, 238]. The tea was also used externally as a wash for hives, swellings, sore nipples, rheumatism etc[222]. The leaves are harvested in the summer and dried for later use[238]. A tea made from the berries has a very definite sedating effect on the nervous system[192].

Known Hazards

None known