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Native Plant Database

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Vaccinium caespitosum (Dwarf bilberry)
Weyand, Phyllis

Vaccinium caespitosum Michx.

Dwarf bilberry, Dwarf blueberry, Dwarf huckleberry

Ericaceae (Heath Family)

USDA Symbol: vaca13

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

Spreading widely by rootstocks and forming mats, dwarf blueberry is 6-12 in. tall with small, light green leaves. Flowers are single in leaf axils, whitish-pink and tubular. The sweet, edible berry is glaucous-blue.

 

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Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub
Leaf: Green
Flower:
Fruit: Black, Blue
Size Class: 1-3 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White , Pink
Bloom Time: May , Jun , Jul , Aug

Distribution

USA: AK , CA , CO , ID , ME , MI , MN , MT , NH , NM , NV , NY , OR , UT , VT , WA , WI , WY
Canada: AB , BC , NB , NS , ON
Native Distribution: AK to CA, e. through ID to the Rockies; e. in Canada & through n. states, to the Atlantic Coast
Native Habitat: Gravelly or rocky meadows, openings & mt. slopes

Growing Conditions

Water Use: High
Light Requirement: Sun
CaCO3 Tolerance: None
Soil Description: Gravelly or rocky soils.
Conditions Comments: Not Available

Benefit

Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Attracts: Butterflies
Larval Host: Heath Sulphur (Colias chippewa), Northern Blue butterfly (Lycaeides idas)

Value to Beneficial Insects

Special Value to Native Bees

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

Butterflies and Moths of North America (BAMONA)

Vaccinium caespitosum is a larval host and/or nectar source for:
Freija Fritillary
(Boloria freija)

Larval Host
Learn more at BAMONA 		Heath Sulphur
(Colias chippewa)
Larval Host
Learn more at BAMONA 		Northern Blue
(Plebejus idas)

Larval Host
Learn more at BAMONA

Find Seed or Plants

View propagation protocol from Native Plants Network.

Bibliography

Bibref 1186 - Field Guide to Moths of Eastern North America (2005) Covell, C.V., Jr.
Bibref 1185 - Field Guide to Western Butterflies (Peterson Field Guides) (1999) Opler, P.A. and A.B. Wright

Search More Titles in Bibliography

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

Metadata

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

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