Re: Help growing Gaultheria procumbens

> I grow Gaultheria procumbens in light to dense shade under a white pine
> tree where it thrives. Its likes well drained and acid soil. In the summer
> during extended dry spells I soak it a great deal.
> 
> It seems to like the place since it has spread even into the nearby lawn.
> If azaleas thrive in the area
> Gaultheria procumbens should also thrive

I've tried mine in:

   dense shade
   dappled shade
   on top of a rock wall
   with irrigation

and every combination thereof (really!) under my pine trees.  Usually 
what happens is that the outer leaves turn black and the plant gradually
shrinks, until one day it just disappears.  :(

I've had the same experiences at my parents' house in Chicago, but with
one oddity.  The two that we didn't get in the ground in time and
just overwintered in buried pots (the original ones from the nursery) 
are still flourishing four years later.  They flower and fruit heavily
each year!

This makes me think that the soil medium is the key here -- most probably
drainage?

Chris (who's puzzled)

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