‘Winston’ Midgen Berry Hailing from the large and often-edible myrtle family, the Midgen Berry produces beautiful white berries with grey speckles on them. This clone, named after the charismatic white feathered pigeon, Winston, that nests in our storage barn, was selected from a seed batch for its particularly vigorous growth, large berries that bear a striking resemblance to Winston the white feathered pigeon, and (hopefully) more cold hardiness than others, though we’re still saying this a Zone 9 plant. Just like the nagoon berries of Alaska or the mountain huckleberries of the Northwest, the Midgen Berry is a unique and locally prized berry from Australia that has been foraged and feasted on for millenia. And like many of the finest fruits, it’s never reached commercial popularity due to difficulty harvesting and shipping it on a large scale. *Latest update on this clone: It looks to have made it through the horrible ice storm of 2021, and a low of around 20°F. at the nursery. The tips are burnt back but it’s alive! Latin Name: Austromyrtus dulcis Site and Soil: 1/2 day to full sun and well-drained soil. Pollination Requirements: Self-fertile. Hardiness: Hardy to 25° F. we’re guessing, hopefully lower! Bearing Age: 1-2 years after planting Size at Maturity: typically around 6 inches to a couple feet tall by 4-8 feet wide Bloom Time: Spring Ripening Time: late July – early October Yield: 3 lbs. or more per plant Pests & Diseases: Not bothered by pests or diseases in our region. Cover plants with netting if birds are a problem. USDA Zone: 9-11
