Plant partridge berry as nursery plants at the soil line, about 8 to 12 inches apart. Work leaf mold into the bed, plant in spring or early fall, and do not dig plants from the woods.
Set plants at the soil line, about 8 to 12 inches apart
| Factor | Recommended | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| When | Early spring after the soil warms, or early fall while the ground is still warm | Do not plant into peak summer heat unless you can keep the bed moist |
| Stock | Nursery plants or plugs, watered before they go in | Do not dig wild patches from public woods |
| Spacing | About 8 to 12 inches apart so the slow stems can meet | Do not set one plant in a large empty bed and wait for a lawn |
| Depth | Crown even with the soil, in a bed with leaf mold or pine needles mixed in | Do not bury the crown, and do not plant into packed clay with no woodland soil |
partridge berry goes in as a small plant, not as a rolled turf. Choose a shady strip, loosen the top few inches, and mix in leaf mold, pine needles, or composted hardwood bark so the bed holds moisture and stays acid. [1] Set each crown at the same depth it had in the pot, about 8 to 12 inches apart. Closer spacing fills faster because this plant is slow to establish. [2] It transplants well from a nursery pot when you keep the roots moist and plant the same day. [3] Buy nursery stock. Do not lift mats from public woods. After the planting day, later watering lives on How to Grow Partridge Berry.
- Choose a shady, acid strip. Pull weeds, loosen the top few inches, and work in two to three inches of leaf mold or pine needles.
- Water the nursery plants, then set each crown even with the soil, about 8 to 12 inches apart.
- Firm the backfill so there are no air pockets, and water thoroughly the same day.
- Keep the soil moist for the first weeks, stay off the patch until it holds, and do not dig replacement plants from the woods. [4]
When do I plant partridge berry?
Plant in early spring after the soil warms, or in early fall while the ground is still warm. Midsummer only works if you can keep the new plants moist.
How far apart do I plant?
About 8 to 12 inches apart. Closer spacing fills faster. One plant will not make a large carpet in a year.
Can I dig it from the woods?
No. Buy nursery plants. Wild patches are slow to recover, and many woods are off limits for collecting.
If new plants brown, they dried out, sat in afternoon sun, or went in with the crown buried. Set the crown at the soil line, give the roots woodland soil, and keep that soil moist until the stems hold.
FAQ
Can I plant in midsummer heat?
Only if you can keep the new plants moist. Early spring or early fall is the easier window.
Can I plant into heavy clay?
Not as it is. Build a raised pocket of woodland soil with leaf mold so the roots stay moist and still drain.
Related guides
Recommended plants
References
- [1] Windriver Greens -
https://plants.windrivergreens.com/native-wildflower/partridgeberry - [2] NC State Extension -
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/mitchella-repens/ - [3] Brooklyn Botanic Garden -
https://www.bbg.org/article/pretty_partridgeberry - [4] Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center -
https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=Mire
This note is part of Mitchella Guides.
More planting notes by plant are gathered in Planting Guides.
Updated: Reviewed by Bosquelle Editors