woodland wildflower
Partridgeberry
Mitchella repens
Also known as Twinberry, Running Box, Pigeon Plum
1 of 2Native to much of the USA and southern Canada
Nova Scotia to Florida, west to Minnesota, southeastern Missouri and eastern Texas. Eastern North America, Zones 4 to 8
- Light Part shade to shade Sun tolerance
- Moisture Dry to moist Moisture preference
- Zones 3–9 Cold to heat range
- Bloom May–Oct Flowering time
- Height 6–12 in 15–30 cm
- Life cycle Perennial Annual to perennial
In the garden
A woodland wildflower for part to full shade and dry to moist soil. At 6–12 in, it tucks into shade gardens and woodland edges. Hardy in USDA zones 3–9.
Growing conditions
Light
Full sun Partial shade Full shade
Moisture
Dry Moist Wet
Hardiness zones
Find your zone:
Pollinators & wildlife
- Bees Common Eastern Bumble Bee also Two-spotted Bumble Bee, Tricolored Bumble Bee, Perplexing Bumble Bee
- Moths Yellow-spotted Webworm Moth
- Butterflies Canadian Tiger Swallowtail
Butterflies that use this plant
Documented host and nectar records. Each links to a planting guide for that butterfly.
Full plant details
Where it grows
- Habitat
- WoodlandThe wild plant community it grows in.
- Native range
- Much of the USA and southern CanadaUnited States (34): AL, AR, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, VA, VT, WI, WV. Canada (5): NB, NS, ON, PE, QC. Where it grows wild on its own, by state and province.
- Native distribution
- Nova Scotia to Florida, west to Minnesota, southeastern Missouri and eastern Texas. Eastern North America, Zones 4 to 8The same native range, usually more exact than the state list, and often noting where it has spread beyond it.
Growing conditions
- Light
- Part shade to shadeHow much sun it takes, from full sun to full shade.
- Moisture
- Dry to moistThe soil dampness it prefers, from dry to wet.
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3–9 · Canadian 3–7The cold-to-heat climate range it survives.
- Soil
- Humus-rich, acidic soil. Sandy, Sandy Loam, Medium Loam, Acid-basedThe soils it grows in naturally.
- Soil texture
- Light to medium (sandy to loamy)The soil grade it prefers, from sand to clay.
- Soil pH
- Acid to neutralThe acidity to alkalinity it tolerates (7 is neutral).
- Water use
- Low to mediumHow thirsty it is, a rough guide to how often to water.
Growth & form
- Height
- 6–12 in (15–30 cm)Typical mature height.
- Spread
- ~2 ft (0.5 m)How wide one plant gets, a guide to spacing.
- Life cycle
- PerennialWhether it lives a single season (annual), two (biennial), or returns for years (perennial).
- Growth rate
- SlowA relative ranking versus other plants of the same type (USDA), not an absolute rate.
Flowers, foliage & fruit
- Type
- WildflowerWhat kind of plant it is.
- Bloom
- May–OctWhen it flowers.
- Flower color
- White, Pink, PurpleThe bloom color, or colors.
- Toxicity
- None knownWhether any part is poisonous to people or pets.