Gaultheria hispida R.Br.

A small shrub. It can be erect or spreading. The young growth is slightly hairy. It has many branches. The branches are covered with coarse red bristles. The leaves are 4-8 cm long by 1.5 cm wide. They are sword shaped with teeth along the edge. The leaves are glossy. There is a fine point at the tip and this is often curved backwards. The flowers are like tubes. They are 0.8 cm long and white. The fruit is a dry capsule with a large succulent calyx around it. The fruit is 1.2 cm across. The fruit are white.

It is a warm temperate plant. It grows in wet forests between 300-1100 m altitude. They need light shade and cool moist soils. They can tolerate most frosts. It is known to grow naturally only in Tasmania. It suits hardiness zones 8-10. Tasmania Herbarium. Arboretum Tasmania.

The fruit can be eaten raw or cooked.

Plants are grown from seed, cuttings or layering. The seeds are very small. The seeds can be sown in a potting mix and pricked out when small. They can then later be transplanted out.