Virginia Tech Dendrology

partridgeberry Rubiaceae Mitchella repens L. Listen to the Latin play symbol: MIRE
Leaf: Opposite, evergreen, oval to heart-shaped leaf, 1/2 inch across, parallel veined, dark green above with a paler yellow-green midrib, pale yellow below.
Flower: Species is monoecious; tubular, 1/2 inch long, 4 white to faint pink fuzzy petals, appearing in mid-summer.
Fruit: Bright red berry, oval, 1/4 to 3/8 inches across, edible and persist through the winter.
Twig: Very delicate and barely woody, light green to brown in color.
Form: A creeping, delicate vine, does not climb and is often covered by fallen leaves.
 Looks like: teaberry
leaf flower fruit twig bark form1 map
Additional Range Information: Mitchella repens is native to North America. Range may be expanded by planting. See the full-size PDF map.
External Links: USDAFS FEIS Silvics - USDA Plants Database
All material © 2019 Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation; Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen, Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson; Silvics reprinted from Ag Handbook 654; range map source information