TASMANIAN COPPERLEAF SNOW BERRY Gaultheria hispida Seeds

This bush for a shady, moist site comes alive in summer to autumn with the whitest of white berry like fruit with a red center

The leaves are quite distinctive, toothed, shiny with veins depressed, and often with a reddish tinge at the tips The stems are usually quite red Evergreen shrub growing to 0 9m 3ft Semi shade, it prefers moist soil

Bush food: The white fruits are edible raw and can be cooked to make tarts and jams, described as having a sweet but subtle flavour and a crispy texture which make them ideal to accompany ice cream or other desserts

Germination: The seeds require a period of cold stratification, pre chill for 4 10 weeks and then surface sow in a lime free compost Germinates well , usually within 1 2 months at 20c but seedlings are liable to damp