Plant, care and overwinter peat myrtle

The peat myrtle with its striking berries thrives particularly well on acidic soil. Its white bell blossoms and colorful berries are an eye-catcher, especially in winter.

The evergreen peat myrtle (Gaultheria mucronata) is an eye-catcher in every garden in autumn with its small, white to red colored berries. However, there are a few special features that you should consider when planting and caring for the bog bed plant.

Peat myrtle: origin and characteristics

The peat myrtle, also known as the stinging shamberry, is a plant from the heather family (Ericaceae). The botanical name of the plant is Gaultheria mucronata, but also the name, which is no longer valid Pernettya mucronata is still familiar. The peat myrtle originally comes from bog areas in southern Chile and Argentina. They are evergreen subshrubs with small, dark green, glossy leaves that have a prickly tip. The plants spread in a creeping manner and become about one meter high and wide. In summer, from May to June, many white bell-like flowers develop on the perennial plants, which grow into small berries in the course of autumn. Depending on the variety, the berries can be white, pink, purple or red in color. Peat myrtle is a dioecious plant - that is, there are male and female plants. The conspicuous berries only arise on the female plants. Its flowers have a long pistil in the center. In order for the berries to develop, however, they need at least one male plant nearby to provide the necessary pollen.

Tip: In botany it is customary that the scientist who first discovers a new plant is allowed to name it. at Pernettya mucronata and Gaultheria mucronata For a long time it was assumed that these are closely related to each other, but that they do not belong to the same genus. However, recent studies show that the two names describe the same plant. Gaultheria mucronata was the first name used and is therefore the name recognized today for the peat myrtle. Sometimes you can still find the plant under its old name in stores.

The most beautiful types of peat myrtle

The varieties available on the market usually hardly differ in their growth habit. Only the color and shape of the berries differ. The following types cover a wide range of colors:

• Gaultheria mucronata "Mulberry Wine": This variety bears large, round berries in a pink to dark pink color.
• Gaultheria mucronata "Snow White": As the name suggests, the berries of this variety of peat myrtle are white and slightly dented.
• Gaultheria mucronata 'Signal': The berries can develop a strong signal red.

Plants: location, time and procedure

The peat myrtle belongs to the heather family and, like other bog plants, grows on moist soil and in an acidic environment. The soil should be permeable in the subsoil so that no waterlogging forms. If the pH value of your garden soil is neutral or even alkaline, it is advisable to replace a large part of the soil with acidic soil. Our Plantura Bio-Acid Soil With a pH of 4.6 to 5.4, it is a good basis for all kinds of heather plants. A partially shaded place in the garden is suitable as a location. Potted myrtle grows best when planted in late spring - from April to May. Then they can develop a certain winter hardiness by winter and have better conditions to survive severe frost. In garden centers and retail outlets, the plants can usually only be found in autumn, but professional tree nurseries and perennial nurseries offer the plants all year round. When planting the peat myrtle, follow these steps:

• Time: May - August
• Plant hole at least twice as large as the root ball
• Pour in acidic soil and mix well with the existing soil
• Generate a swampy mass with plenty of water so that the acidic substrate can soak up with water
• Pot the peat myrtle and loosen the root ball
• Insert it flush with the ground and fill with soil until the plant is firm
• Model the pouring edge and cover the ground with mulch material such as bark mulch or pine bark
• In the coming weeks, keep the soil well moist until the peat myrtle has grown in

You can also plant peat myrtles in a tub. In this case, care should be taken to use an acidic soil as a base. A drainage layer can also prevent waterlogging in the pot. The bucket is placed in a partially shaded place. The soil should be kept sufficiently moist. The tubs are overwintered in a cool, but frost-free place.

Care of the peat myrtle

Make sure that the soil around the peat myrtle is permanently moist, as it is a bog plant. The irrigation water should always be free of lime. Because the plants are very sensitive to lime. Collected rainwater is best. It makes sense to occasionally work peat or acidic soil into the surrounding soil, as the peat myrtle develops in width and benefits from acidic soil there too. The plants do not need pruning, but disturbing shoots can be removed without hesitation. Occasional pruning, however, promotes fruit formation. If you want to keep the peat myrtle in the garden for several years, it is advisable to fertilize the plants in spring. Sour liquid fertilizers or long-term fertilizers like ours are suitable for fertilization Plantura organic hydrangea fertilizer. This supplies all plants that prefer an acidic environment with all the necessary nutrients and acidifies the soil.

Wintering: is the peat myrtle hardy?

Young plants definitely need to be protected in winter. Cover these with fir branches in winter. In severe frosts, an additional layer of straw or leaves can be helpful. If a peat myrtle is several years old, the plant does acquire a certain degree of winter hardiness. The plants withstand temperatures between -15 to -17 ° C, but the berries are damaged in severe frost, which reduces their ornamental value. If you have a peat myrtle in the pot, it must be wintered protected from frost. If possible, the plant should also get light during this time. In spring, the plants can be put back in a shady place in the garden, but should be protected again when there is frost.

Is the peat myrtle poisonous?

Peat myrtle is considered to be slightly poisonous. The plant contains, among other things, the active ingredient andromedotoxin, which can cause nausea and dizziness. Pets and young children should be kept away from the plants, although the prickly leaves of the plants also make them unattractive.

The peat myrtle can be easily arranged in the bed with other bog plants. Blueberries have similar requirements to peat myrtle and are also very tasty berries. How do you like the delicious Grow blueberries can be found in our special article.