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Wasowski, Sally and Andy

Gaylussacia dumosa

Gaylussacia dumosa (Andrews) Torr. & A. Gray

Dwarf Huckleberry

Ericaceae (Heath Family)

Synonym(s): Gaylussacia bigeloviana, Gaylussacia dumosa var. bigeloviana, Gaylussacia orocola, Lasiococcus dumosus, Lasiococcus dumosus var. bigelovianus, Lasiococcus orocola

USDA Symbol: gadu

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), CAN (N), SPM (N)

A low, rhizomatous, blueberry-like shrub, 3-15 in. tall, with deciduous or semi-evergreen leaves and shiny-black fruit (drupes). Leaves are 1 in. long and widest toward the tip. Flowers are cream to pink, cup-shaped and five-lobed.

From the Image Gallery

4 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub
Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Fruit Type: Drupe
Size Notes: Up to about 15 inches tall.
Leaf: Green

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr , May , Jun , Jul , Aug

Distribution

USA: AL , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , LA , MA , MD , ME , MS , NC , NH , NJ , NY , PA , RI , SC , TN , VA , WV
Canada: NB , NL , NS , PE
Native Distribution: Nf. to FL & LA
Native Habitat: Low pinelands, pond margins & bogs; dry, sandy woods

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Part Shade
CaCO3 Tolerance: Low
Soil Description: Sandy, acid soils.

Benefit

Conspicuous Flowers: yes

Mr. Smarty Plants says

Native ground cover to replace grass in Florida.
February 04, 2008
Where can I find a list of ground covers to replace my grass. I live in the south of Ocala Florida.
view the full question and answer

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:	AGCP	AK	AW	CB	EMP	GP	HI	MW	NCNE	WMVE
Status:	FAC				FAC				FAC

This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1 (Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). Click here for map of regions.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Crosby Arboretum - Picayune, MS

Bibliography

Bibref 1620 - Gardening with Native Plants of the South (Reprint Edition) (2009) Wasowski, S. with A. Wasowski

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Web Reference

Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Research Literature

Reslit 101 - Flammability of native understory species in pine flatwood and hardwood hammock ecosystems and implications for the wildland-urban interface (2004) A. L. Behm, M. L. Duryea, A. J. Long and W. C. Zip...
Reslit 1948 - Native Vaccinium spp. and Gaylussacia spp. infested by Rhagoletis mendax (Diptera : Tephritidae) in the Great Lakes region: A potential source of inoculum for infestation of cultivated blueberries (2001) J. J. Smith, V. Gavrilovic and D. R. Smitley

This information was provided by the Florida WIldflower Foundation.
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Additional resources

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

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-02-10
Research By: TWC Staff

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