Mitchella repens, commonly called partridge berry (also partridgeberry), is an herbaceous, mat-forming, evergreen perennial that is indigenous to the woodlands of eastern North America. It likes sandy soils around bluff ledges, bogs and stream banks and in low moist woods. This is a prostrate plant that reaches only 2” tall, but will spread by trailing stems to 12” wide or more. Oval to round, glossy, dark green leaves (to 3/4” long) with whitish veins appear in pairs along the stems. Fragrant, four-lobed, funnel-shaped, white flowers (to 1/2” long) are lightly flushed with pink. Flowers bloom in spring in pairs mostly at the stem ends. Flowers are subsequently followed by round, bright red berries that typically ripen in late summer. A pair of flowers yields one berry, hence the additional common name of twin berry for this plant. Berries are edible, but rather tasteless. Berries often persist on the plants throughout winter.

This evergreen groundcover has interesting foliage, flowers and fruit. Plant in woodland/shade gardens, under trees and in part shade areas of border fronts and rock gardens. Also effective around small ponds.