This pretty creeping perennial herb is a native plant found in North America as well as in Connecticut. Originally, everything we know about this plant came from Native Americans. Native communities across the country foraged the partridgeberry because they found an amazing number of medicinal uses for this small but mighty herb.
About the Partridgeberry
Partridgeberries are a trailing and attractive evergreen herb that grows no taller than about two inches. The small rounded evergreen leaves are dainty and have a whitish-yellow center vein. The trumpet-shaped flowers are white and highly fragrant. The inner surface of each flower is covered with dense white hairs that give them a fuzzy look. The flowers are followed by the red berries that appear in the summer and can tolerate cold winter weather. The plant can be propagated by dividing or cutting the trailing stems. It prefers to grow in the shade in rich well-drained soil and can often be found growing under the shade of the Eastern hemlock tree. They have a slight taste of wintergreen.
About the Video
As part of the Institute's "Inside with IAIS" program, join Griffen Kalin, an educator at the Museum for a foraging adventure looking for the partridgeberry. To view the video click here.
Medicinal and Ceremonial Uses
Patridgeberries were used by many Native American communities including the Cherokee, Chippewa, Delaware, Delaware Oklahoma, Iroquois, Menominee,Ojibwa, and others as an aid for childbirth. It was used in the form of an infusion or tea to ease menstrual cramps, help with labor pains, and ease delivery. It was used as a wash for sore nipples during breastfeeding. Berries were eaten to prevent severe labor pains. This herb was also used in a variety of ways to treat sore muscles and rheumatism. The Abnaki applied a compound of this plant externally to treat swelling. The Chippewa and the Delaware Oklahoma use a hot infusion of the leaves and twigs as a steam treatment for sore muscles. The Iroquois found many uses for this herb. They use a compound infusion of the bark and twigs to treat back pains and also use this infusion to treat convulsions and vomiting.
The Cherokee used a decoction made with milk to treat dysentery. A poultice of this plant was used to treat rashes in babies and a decoction of the roots and vines was given to newborns to treat swollen abdomens and stomachaches and, to prevent rickets. A compound of this plant was used to treat fevers and painful urination. The Menominee used an infusion of leaves to help treat insomnia. The Montagnais cooked the berries into a thick jam and ate this mixture to treat fevers. The Ojibwa would smoke the leaves as a blood purifier during ceremonies.
Did You Know
The fruit of this plant is consumed by ruffed Grouse, Bobwhite Quail, turkeys, foxes, skunks, and White-footed Mice.
Partridgeberry is also known as twinflower, squaw berry two-eyed berry, running fox, and noon kie oo nah yeah (Mohawk language).
Its Latin name is Mitchella repens which means creeping. This is the only Mitchella found in North America, other plants in this family are found in Asia.
Partridgeberry is on the United Plant Savers "to watch list"as one of our native medicinal herbs that could be potentially threatened in the wild.
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