Partridge-berry, not to be confused with wintergreen or cranberries, also sometimes called partridgeberries, or for lingonberry. Partridge-berries are an edible and medicinal evergreen vine, non climbing, with double-berry fused red fruits. The leaves have white veins.
Partridge-berry (Mitchella repens) is common around Haliburton, Ontario. The first specimen I found was on a rocky outcrop along a dirt road. I would have walked right past it if I hadn’t noticed the bright red berries:
Edible Uses of Partridge-berry
Partridgeberries are edible, but they’re nearly tasteless. You may get a hint of wintergreen in a strong tea.
The berries can be used in recipes, fresh or dried, but the grouse and wild turkeys may appreciate them more.
Medicinal Uses of Partridge-berry
Partridge-berry is primarily said to support these body systems:
- Reproductive
Medicinal tags include Astringent, Diuretic and Emmenagogue. See Medicinal tag key for more information.
Common usage includes fresh aerial parts in a tea in the weeks before delivery and during childbirth, to prevent severe labor pains and for nerves. You can combine it with raspberry leaf too. It’s at risk in some areas due to potential overharvesting for this purpose. United Plant Savers recommends using cultivated and not wild harvested for this reason and suggests alternatives like motherwort and catnip as uterine tonics, raspberry leaf before childbirth, and peppermint for menstrual cramps. However, it’s easy to grow yourself.
Many herbalists and midwives use herbs like black and blue cohosh, evening primrose, patridge-berry and red raspberry for easing labor without harsh side effects.
Most other uses center around nipples and uteruses. From nipple creams to menses problems.
Alternative Uses of Winter Berry
It’s an ornamental, Christmassy evergreen for winter landscaping. You can also grow it in a terrarium for a natural centerpiece.
Growing Mitchella Repens
You need a male and female plant for berries. Sowing seeds is complicated but doable. Rooting cuttings is the easier route. It’s a great native groundcover in moist shady gardens and for our acidic soils around Haliburton.
It’s a beauty carpeting rocky outcrops, and along drives and walkways, same as wintergreen, except partridgeberry is a draping vine. I once saw a picture of it growing between the exposed roots of a tree trunk, which was stunning.
WARNINGS
Don’t use during pregnancy with the exception of the final month (or close to) as it may potentially induce labor. There may be exceptions for women who have had trouble carrying to term, but be sure to work with an experienced practitioner in special cases.
And the Usual Cautions:
1) Most medicinal herbs, if edible, are meant to be eaten in moderation, even sparingly. Some require extra preparation. Tannins are toxic if consumed in excess. Before taking any new supplements, you should consult with a healthcare professional.
2) A vast amount of these herbs are diuretic. (See the Medicinal tags above to check if this featured herb is one of them!) Diuretics are generally safe, but they can be risky for people with other medical conditions or who take certain medications. Please consult your doctor if you have any health conditions.
3) People can be allergic or sensitive to nearly any plant; try new herbs one at a time at your own risk. For instance, saponins commonly cause stomach upset.
4) For serious medicinal use, I must recommend receiving a diagnosis and working with a reputed health care provider. I generally do not post specific treatments and dosages because I think that is best between you and your health care provider, and ideally monitored.
5) Anyone pregnant, nursing, or taking prescription drugs should talk to a health care professional before adding new food items to their diet.
6) Many plants have look-a-likes, and sometimes they are poisonous.
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REFERENCES
My new favourite foraging book is Sam Thayer’s Field Guide to Edible Wild Plants: of Eastern and Central North America (The Sam Thayer’s Field Guides) Paperback – June 1, 2023 and this plant IS featured as one of the edible wild plants in this area. I highly recommend this guide for your bookshelves!
Mitchella repens Linnaeus – Database of Vascular Plants of Canada (VASCAN)
Edible and Medicinal Plants of Canada
The Earthwise Herbal, Volume II: A Complete Guide to New World Medicinal Plants
Reader’s Digest Magic and Medicine of Plants
Planting the Future: Saving Our Medicinal Herbs
Mi’kmaq Medicines (2nd edition): Remedies and Recollections
The Yoga of Herbs: An Ayurvedic Guide to Herbal Medicine
Field Guide to Medicinal Wild Plants
The Herb Book: The Most Complete Catalog of Herbs Ever Published (Dover Cookbooks)
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