Winter Splash™ Variegated Wintergreen

If stunning ground cover is what you are after, then Winter Splash Variegated Wintergreen™ may just be the answer. Botanically known as Gaultheria procumbens Winter Splash™, this variegated evergreen dwarf shrub is rather unusual. Featuring a 4 to 6-inch high cover of green and white variegated leaves that tinge pink in winter, it also develops small white blooms in summer that give way to red berries. Generally unfazed by disease or pests, Winter Splash Variegated Wintergreen™ is easy to grow and care for. Native to North America, it is part of the Ericaceae family and is adaptable for growing in zones 3 to 8. With a creeping habit, Winter Splash Variegated Wintergreen™ is perfect for naturalizing, adding to rock gardens, providing attractive groundcover and even growing in a container. Winter Splash Variegated Wintergreen™ Care Although tolerant of full shade, partial shade may help bring out the pink in the foliage. When it comes to the soil, it prefers a neutral to acidic substrate that is moist but free draining. To maintain plant health and its lush foliage, consistent moisture is required, especially during dry spells. The Winter Splash Variegated Wintergreen™ does not strictly require any supplementary fertilization. Nevertheless, you can apply an organic fertilizer in spring to help promote new growth. Pruning is not required for this slow-growing cultivar, but it can be trimmed in spring. To help conserve moisture, you can apply a mulch of peat moss in spring as well. Winter Splash Variegated Wintergreen™ Spacing A plant spacing of around one foot is recommended, as the Winter Splash Variegated Wintergreen™ remains compact at 4 to 6 inches high and 10 to 12 inches wide.