For autumn and winter colour in a shady spot in the garden gaultheria procumbens is an excellent choice summer39s small pink bell45shaped flowers are followed in october by scarlet berries which can last well into january before providing essential winter food for birds the glossy evergreen leaves turn a glorious red in autumn also known as checkerberry this is a low45maintenance weed45suppressing plant useful for ground cover and preferring neutral or slightly acid soil pla