Share

Native Plant Database

Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

Search native plant database:
Name:    
Family:    

Vaccinium parvifolium Sm.

Red blueberry, Red huckleberry

Ericaceae (Heath Family)

USDA Symbol: VAPA

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

A graceful, somewhat straggling shrub with slim branches, bright yellow-green leaves and sparkling-red berries. The plant generally is 3-12 ft. high but can reach 20 ft. The reddish, edible berry is preceded by white to greenish flowers in ones or twos. Reddish leaves cling to the bright green branches well into fall.

The Red Huckleberry is a member of the heath family (family Ericaceae) which is widespread, especially on acid soils, with about 1500 species, mostly shrubs, sometimes trees; 15 native tree and many native shrub species in North America. Leaves: usually alternate, simple, elliptical, and not toothed often thick and evergreen, without stipules.

 

From the Image Gallery

No images of this plant

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub
Leaf: Green
Flower:
Fruit: Red
Size Class: 6-12 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White , Pink , Green
Bloom Time: May , Jun

Distribution

USA: AK , CA , OR , WA
Canada: BC
Native Distribution: CA Coast Ranges from Santa Cruz Mts. & Sierras from Fresno Co., n. (w. of Cascades) to s.e. AK
Native Habitat: Dry to moist, conifer woods & openings below 5000 ft.
USDA Native Status: L48(N), AK(N), CAN(N)

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Sun , Part Shade , Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry , Moist
CaCO3 Tolerance: Low
Soil Description: Moist, rich, acid soils.
Conditions Comments: Not Available

Benefit

Use Wildlife: Birds and mammals eat berries.
Attracts: Birds

Value to Beneficial Insects

Special Value to Native Bees

This information was provided by the Pollinator Program at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.

Propagation

Description: Seeds, layering or softwood cuttings taken in spring can start this species. It will also root from hardwood cuttings of unbranched shoots of previous season. Seeds may need to be stratified and should be sown on a slightly acid soil mix.
Seed Treatment: Stratify for 60-90 days at 41 degrees. No treatment may give good results.
Commercially Avail: yes

Find Seed or Plants

Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is either on display or available from the following:

Santa Barbara Botanic Garden - Santa Barbara, CA
Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR

Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Vaccinium parvifolium in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Vaccinium parvifolium in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Vaccinium parvifolium

Metadata

Record Modified: 2007-01-01
Research By: TWC Staff

Go back