Vaccinium ovalifolium

J. E. Smith

Black huckleberry, Oval-leafed blueberry

Ericaceae Edible: Fruit 8,485 iNaturalist observations

Has a deadly poisonous lookalike — see comparison below

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Summary

Vaccinium ovalifolium (commonly known as Alaska blueberry, early blueberry, oval-leaf bilberry, oval-leaf blueberry, and oval-leaf huckleberry) is a plant in the heath family with three varieties, all of which grow in northerly regions (e.g. the subarctic).

Description

A clumpy shrub. It is fairly narrow and upright. It grows 1 m high. It can grow 3 m high. It loses its leaves. It can form suckers if the roots are damaged. The young stems are angular and have grooves. The leaves are oval and have smooth edges. The leaves are pale green and paler underneath. The leaves are 3-6 cm long and 2-3 cm wide. The flowers appear before the leaves and are 1 cm long by 5 mm wide. They can be green or pink. The fruit are blue, purple or black berries. They are 8 mm across and are edible. They have a gritty texture. It can form hybrids with Vaccinium deliciosum and Vaccinium membranaceum.

Edible Uses

The fruit can be eaten raw or cooked and has a pleasant, mildly acidic, sweet flavour. It is a reasonable source of vitamin C. The fruit can also be dried for later use, at which point it develops a raisin-like flavour. Each fruit is about 10mm in diameter.

Traditional Uses

The very ripe berries are harvested then pressed into a cake and dried. Later they are stirred with water and eaten. They are also eaten raw and cooked.

Medicinal Uses

The plant has antiseptic, astringent, carminative, and hypoglycaemic properties. An infusion made from the leaves and sugar has traditionally been given to mothers after childbirth.

Distribution

It is a temperate plant. It is cold hardy. It does well in moist conditions and suits bogs.

Where It Grows

Alaska, Canada, Japan, North America*, Russia, USA,

Cultivation

Requires a moist but freely-draining lime free soil, preferring one that is rich in peat or a light loamy soil with added leaf-mould. Prefers a very acid soil with a pH in the range of 4.5 to 6, plants soon become chlorotic when lime is present. Succeeds in full sun or light shade though it fruits better in a sunny position. Requires shelter from strong winds. Dislikes root disturbance, plants are best grown in pots until being planted out in their permanent positions. The fruit is borne singly rather than in clusters. This species is closely related to V. parvifolium. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus.

Propagation

Sow seed in late winter in a greenhouse using a lime-free potting mix, barely covering it. Stored seed may need up to 3 months of cold stratification. Alternatively, sow fresh seed in a greenhouse as soon as it is ripe. When seedlings reach about 5cm tall, prick them out into individual pots and grow on in a lightly shaded position in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant out into permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 5–8cm with a heel, can be taken in August in a frame, though this method is slow and difficult. Layering can be done in late summer or early autumn — though one report favours spring — and takes 18 months. Suckers can be divided in spring or early autumn.

Other Uses

None known.

Other Information

They are eaten and also dried in large quantities.

Dangerous Lookalikes

This plant can be confused with the following toxic species. Always verify identification carefully before consuming any wild plant.

DEADLY

Deadly Nightshade

Atropa belladonna

Joan Simon from Barcelona, España

Safe

Black huckleberry

Vaccinium ovalifolium

Deadly Nightshade: Tall herbaceous plant (1-2m), single shiny black cherry-sized berries, star-shaped calyx, large oval leaves, sweet but dangerous taste.

Black huckleberry: Low woody shrub, berries in clusters with crown/remnant calyx ring, sweet taste.

Synonyms

Vaccinium alaskaense HowellVaccinium chamissonis Bong.and others

Also Known As

Alaskan blueberry, Kuro-usugo, Spuuxaltswa, Tokabonoma

References (20)

Beckstrom-Sternberg, Stephen M., and James A. Duke. "The Foodplant Database." http://probe.nalusda.gov:8300/cgi-bin/browse/foodplantdb.(ACEDB version 4.0 - data version July 1994)
Bowser, M., 2017, Handout on Edible Plants of the Kenai Peninsula. USFWS Kenai National Wildlife Refuge p 13
Coutre, M. D., et al, 1986, Foraging Behaviour of a Contemporary Northern Great Basin Population. Journal of California and Great Basin Anthropology Vol. 8(2) pp 150-160
Facciola, S., 1998, Cornucopia 2: a Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, p 99
Hedrick, U.P., 1919, (Ed.), Sturtevant's edible plants of the world. p 667

Show all 20 references

Heller, C. A., 1962, Wild Edible and Poisonous Plants of Alaska. Univ. of Alaska Extension Service. p 48
http://en.hortipedia.com
Kermath, B. M., et al, 2014, Food Plants in the Americas: A survey of the domesticated, cultivated and wild plants used for Human food in North, Central and South America and the Caribbean. On line draft. p 895
Kuhnlein, H. V., et al, 2009, Indigenous Peoples' food systems. FAO Rome p 33
Lyle, S., 2006, Discovering fruit and nuts. Land Links. p 224
MacKinnon, A., et al, 2009, Edible & Medicinal Plants of Canada. Lone Pine. p 114
Moerman, D. F., 2010, Native American Ethnobotany. Timber Press. p 584
Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/
A. Rees, Cycl. 36: Vaccinium no. 2. 1817
Tanaka,
Trehane, J., 2004, Blueberries, Cranberries and Other Vacciniums. Timber Press. p 235
Turner, N., 1995, Food Plants of Coastal First Peoples. Royal BC Museum Handbook p 84
Turner, N., 1997, Food Plants of Interior First Peoples. Royal BC Museum Handbook p 120
Turner, N., et al, 2011, "Up on the Mountain": Ethnobotanical Important of Montane Sites in Pacific Coastal North America. Journal of Ethnobiology 31(1): 4-43
Williams, D., 2017, Ainu Ethnobiology. Contributions in Ethnobiology. Society of Ethnobiology. p 145 (As Vaccinium chamissonis)