An erect dwarf shrub bearing a whorl of 3–5 leaves at the top. The whitish flowers are carried below the leaves. Fruits are scarlet berries formed from the sepals which become fleshy. Their flavour is wintergreen like. The leaves are also wintergreen-scented when crushed or torn.

Common throughout

Delicious raw with flavour of wintergreen. Persistent through the winter, providing food for birds arriving back in early spring. Leaves or fruit may be steeped in tea, fresh or dried.

No recipe needed