Partridgeberry

 Wild Harvest Tour Exclusive

 

This post is based on something we encountered on the July Wild Harvest Tour. Tobacco Weed is a native wild plant we found in droves in the July tour.

 

https://www.facebook.com/p/Sandhills-Wild-Harvest-61557940700225/

 

The dainty foliage resembles Vinca minor or a number of members of the mind family.

 

If grown as a groundcover this one will not tolerate foot traffic but will tolerate the shade.

 

Common Name: Partridgeberry

 

Other Common Names: Twinberry, Partridge Berry, Partridge-Berry, Running Box, Pigeon Plum.

 

Botanical Family: Rubiaceae (The Madder Family)

 

Botanical Latin Name: Mitchella repens

 

Description & Habitat:  Partridgeberry is an evergreen perennial low-growing herb that is commonly found in forests, near stream banks and other mesic habitats throughout eastern and central North America. In the case of the Wild Harvest Tour In June of 2024 we found this plant in Clark Park. Its white fuzzy looking flowers are borne in pairs and are said to be aromatic, and it should be noted here that this plant naturally does not get taller than two inches (50.8mm). It prefers the same ranges as acid soil loving plants. Its stems can root anywhere they are in regular contact with soil. In terms of foliage it has opposite leaves that are oval shaped and it somewhat resembles the common ground cover Vinca minor but with smaller leaves. This plant’s berries are food for a number of wild birds including Ruffled Grouse, Bobwhite Quail and, Turkeys.

 

When & What to Harvest: Typically what you want to harvest is the berries once they are bright red in color. The leaves are said to be useful as a tea to aid in child birth and wer eused by Native American women at some point.

 

Poisonous Lookalikes: none

 

Related Edible Species: none known.

 

Recipe:  Most of the recipes I found for this native food source suggested baking the berries into breads or making jellies out of them. There appears to be no shortage of ideas for using the berries in things and perhaps the strangest idea I’ve seen is to pickle them. Just as a note the berries are kind of bland and will need sugar if you are making preserves or jellies out of them.

 

Additional Information: (If applicable)

https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/mitchella-repens/

 

 

With all that garden goodness covered this is the part of the blog where I have to advertise for the Fayetteville City Market. Now I know you readers probably don’t much like advertisements, but my booth at the City Market helps to cover the costs of running the test garden and literally maintains the Research & Development budget that is used to bring you the information that has made up the backbone of this blog.  In addition to being able to process card payments we now take CashApp payments so your payment options for my product have tripled. With that said; if you want to get some GMO-free, Organic fruit, herbs, flowers and perennials, come on down to the Fayetteville City Market on 325 Maxwell Street in downtown Fayetteville between the hours of 9:00 am and 1:00 pm on Saturdays. Even in bad weather the market goes on though you might have to look for me under the ‘arches’ of the Transportation Museum’s front entryway.

 

For those of you wondering what plants are going to be at the market this weekend here is the list.

 

 

Fresh Foods:

Blueberries, Rabbiteye – 12 ounces

Blueberries, Rabbiteye – 8 ounces

Figs, Mixed* – 16 ounces

Figs, Mixed* – 8 ounces

Tomatoes, Cherry Blend – 12 ounces

 

*Figs will be a mix of what is currently ripe; they might be White Ischia, Chicago Hardy, Celeste, Magnolia, Kadota, Brown Turkey or Petit Nigra.

 

 

Soil Amendment Products (New!)

Live Mushroom Compost – 3 Gallon Bag

Live Mushroom Compost – 1 Gallon Bag

 

Garden Plants, Perennial

Cutleaf Coneflower

Gentian Sage

Spineless Prickly Pear

Spanish Bayonet

 

Garden Plants, Annual

Celosia, New Mix

Celosia, Red

Marigold, Naughty Marietta – Yellow

Marigold, Naughty Marietta – Orange

Madagascar Periwinkle, Blackberry

Madagascar Periwinkle, Cranberry

Wishbone Flower

 

Coming Soon:

American Aloe

 

 

 

How to stay in Contact with Us!

Our group’s online presence has migrated to Nextdoor.com. All you need to keep up with all our activities is to have a Nextdoor account and to look for the ‘Sustainable Neighbors of Fayetteville’ group and ask to join! You don’t have to live in Fayetteville to join us! Feel free to ask all your garden questions of our knowledgeable membership and post your cool garden pictures.

 

Sustainable Neighbors of Fayetteville

 

Also please take a gander at the YouTube version of this blog:

The Videos: Look Here

>Newest videos (1): Formosa Lily

 

Meetings are still going on! Our next (unofficial) meeting is August 10^th at the Fayetteville City Market at 325 Franklin Street between 9:00 am and 1:00 pm.