Red Huckleberry

Scientific name

Vaccinium parvifolium

Description

Red Huckleberry is a slow growing deciduous shrub species that typically grows between 1 and 3 m in height. This plant may also be known by the common names Red Bilberry or Red Whortleberry. The leaves are alternately arranged, light green colored, small, oval shaped, and have entire margins. The flowers are creamy pink colored, bell shaped, appear in the leaf axils, and bloom between April and June. The fruits are small round bright red colored berries that ripen between July and August. The fruit and habitat this shrub provides are beneficial to wildlife species, such as birds and small mammals. Huckleberries are an important source of food for Grizzly and Black Bears. The roots are good for controlling erosion and stabilizing shorelines. This shrub is an attractive ornamental garden plant.

Planting conditions

Red Huckleberry grows best in moist conditions with partial sun exposure. It prefers well-drained, acidic sand, loam, humus, or gravel soil types. It is tolerant of acidic soil, low nutrient soil, steep slopes, and periodically flooded areas. It can tolerate deep shade but will produce more flowers and fruit with more sun exposure. This shrub can be naturally found in wet forests, around forest edges, near wetlands, and along river or stream shorelines.

Details

• Plant height:
  • Max 3m
  • Any
• Moisture level:
  • Moist
  • Flood Tolerant
• Light conditions:
  • Full sun
  • Partial sun
  • Shade
• Soil type:
  • Sandy
  • Loamy
  • Humus
  • Rocky
• pH:
  • Acidic
  • Normal
• Depth:
  • Potted
  • Bareroot
• Plant type:
  • Shrub
• Height:
  • 1-3 m
• Spread:
  • 2 m