Partridge Berry Identified

These berries were still on the plant in the spring, even as it is getting ready to flower for the season

Often called partridge berry, squaw berry, or two-eyed berry, Mitchella repens is a common, native plant in North America. It ranges from eastern Canada to Florida, and as far west as Texas. It prefers moist woods, and we find it often in conifer-filled forests of pine and hemlock, often blanketing the forest floor with its creeping stems.

Partridge berry is a very small, woody-stemmed shrub, with about 6"-12" long stems. The woody branches produce opposite pairs of small, dark green, ovate leaves, about 1/2" long, with white or yellow mid-ribs. At the nodes where the leaves grow from the stem, the plant may produce additional roots where it contacts the ground, helping the plant spread into great mats. It is easily propagated by cuttings, and makes a handsome ground cover in shady areas.

Photographing the flower was a bit of a challenge for us, since we always seemed to miss that short time in the late spring when the blooms are out. The flower is unusual in that they are produced in pairs, fused at the base, sharing a common calyx. The trumpet-shaped, white flowers are covered with fine hairs, and each flower has four petals, one pistil, and four stamens. Before they bloom, the bud has a pink hue.

Unripe berry

The pair of flowers will produce one berry with two "eyes" on the underside. The berries ripen from green to bright red in July, and can persist on the plant through the winter and into the spring when the plant starts blooming again. There are several small seeds inside. While pretty and technically edible, the berries are mostly flavorless and a bit dry. They are great for kids to find and eat, and could go into a mixed wild foods salad. This is more of a survival food, as the berries last on the plant for so long, and can even be found under the snow. They are a good food source for many wild birds and small rodents in the forest.

Berry underside, with the two "eyes" visible