Vaccinium ovatum

Vaccinium ovatum is a North American species of huckleberry in the heather family commonly known as the evergreen huckleberry, winter huckleberry, cynamoka berry and California huckleberry. It has a large distribution on the Pacific Coast of North America ranging from southern British Columbia to southern California. It is a tall woody shrub that produces fleshy, edible berries in the summer. The plant is used for food, natural landscaping, and floral arrangements.

Description

An evergreen shrub. It grows 0.9-1.5 m high and spreads 0.9-1.5 m wide. The leaves are 25 mm long and oval. They have teeth along the edge. The flowers are small and white or pink. They are tinted with red. They are in clusters. The fruit is blue-black. They are 5 mm across and edible.

Edible Uses

The fruit can be eaten raw, cooked, or dried for later use. It is somewhat sweet but slightly dry, quite palatable though not exceptional, with a strong flavour that makes it well suited to pies, preserves, and similar preparations. The fruit often remains on the bush until early winter and is about 6mm in diameter. A tea can also be made from the leaves and dried fruit.

Traditional Uses

The fruit can be eaten fresh. They are also used for jam and for pies.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

The leaves are antiseptic, astringent, carminative, and hypoglycaemic. An infusion of the leaves and sugar has been given to mothers after childbirth to help them regain their strength. A decoction of the leaves has been used in the treatment of diabetes.

Distribution

It is a temperate plant. It is cold hardy. It can grow in full sun but also grows in shade. It is drought tolerant once established. It can grow in exposed coastal locations. It suits hardiness zones 7-10. Mt Lofty Botanical Gardens.

Where It Grows

Australia, Canada, North America*, 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. Most species require shelter from strong winds, but judging by the native range of this species it might succeed in maritime exposure. Hardy to about -15°c. Plants are sometimes cut back by late frosts A very ornamental plant, it is sometimes cultivated for its edible fruit, there are some named varieties. One report says that it does not fruit freely in Britain, but a shrub growing in the shade of oak trees at the RHS gardens in Wisley was seen to be heavy with fruit in the autumns of 1987 and 1988. A shade loving plant, growing well in a woodland. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus. Dislikes root disturbance, plants are best grown in pots until being planted out in their permanent positions.

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

It is a commonly used fruit.

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

Evergreen huckleberry

Vaccinium ovatum

(c) dongartner, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)

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

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

Also Known As

Blackwinter huckleberry, Box blueberry, California blueberry, Shot huckleberry

References (18)

• 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)
• Bocek, B. R., 1984, Ethnobotany of Costanoan Indians, California, Based on Collections by John P. Harrington. Economic Botany 38(2): 240-255
• Brickell, C. (Ed.), 1999, The Royal Horticultural Society A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants. Convent Garden Books. p 1040
• Cundall, P., (ed.), 2004, Gardening Australia: flora: the gardener's bible. ABC Books. p 1453
• Facciola, S., 1998, Cornucopia 2: a Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, p 99

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