Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest; British Columbia to California, east to Idaho and Montana.
Habitat: Forested areas from fairly dry Ponderosa pine to subalpine bogs.
Flowers: June-August
Origin: Native
Growth Duration: Perennial
Conservation Status: Not of concern
Low, spreading shrub up to 4 cm. tall, the branches slender, 5-20 cm. long, covered with soft, brown hairs.
Leaves evergreen, leathery, shiny, alternate, broadly ovate, acute, 2-4 cm. long and 1.5-3 cm. broad, conspicuously serrulate.
Flowers single in the leaf axils on short, bracteate pedicels; calyx deeply 5-parted, about 2 mm. long, covered with reddish-brown, soft hairs; corolla united, 5-lobed, bell-shaped, 3.5-5 mm. long, white or pinkish; stamens 10, anthers opening by terminal pores, without awns.
Capsule berry-like, surrounded by the persistent, pulpy calyx, 6-8 mm. long, bright red.
Publication: Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts. 19: 85. 1883.
PNW Herbaria: Specimen records of Gaultheria ovatifolia in the Consortium of Pacific Northwest Herbaria database.
WA Flora Checklist: Gaultheria ovatifolia checklist entry.
OregonFlora: Gaultheria ovatifolia information.
E-Flora BC: Gaultheria ovatifolia atlas page.
CalPhotos: Gaultheria ovatifolia photos.
USDA Plants: Gaultheria ovatifolia information.
