mycorrhizal nerdery ahead

So as you may know, I’ve been on something of a mycorrhizae kick this week, and so just now I’ve been looking at this chart* that lists plants by family and genus and gives you which kind of mycorrhizae they form symbiosis with, if any. Which is super cool, ok?

Any way, I love wintergreen, the plant, but it has never done very well for me. You know what plant is a member of a very special plant family that isn’t symbiotic with endo or ectomycorrhizae, but in fact partners with either ericoid or arbutoid fungi?

Wintergreen! Did you know there is one time I’ve seen wintergreen do well here, and it was when it was planted under the very thick canopy of two rhododendrons?

Did you know that rhododendrons partner with ericoid fungi just like wintergreen?

I am now wondering very much if the reason why that wintergreen did so well when others have not is because it was able to partner with the already established ericoid fungi.

I also learned that as blueberries are also in the Ericaceae family, they also partner with ericoid fungi, and I’m wondering if I can inoculate my blueberries by getting some hopefully mycellium rich soil from around rhododendrons and watering it in around my blueberries. And if so, can I then plant wintergreen around my blueberries and finally have them thrive?!?!?

*If you want to find it, search for “Mycorrhizal Status of Plant Families and Genera”