Vaccinium parvifolium

Smith

Red huckleberry

Ericaceae Edible: Fruit 25,794 iNaturalist observations

Has a deadly poisonous lookalike — see comparison below

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Summary

Source: Wikipedia

Vaccinium parvifolium, the red huckleberry, is a species of Vaccinium native to western North America.

Description

A shrub. It grows 1.8 m high and spreads 1.8 m wide. It loses its leaves during the year, but can keep its leaves in warmer climates. The leaves are 25 mm long. They are light green. The flowers are 6 mm wide. They are green with red tints. The fruit are pinkish-red berries. They let light through. They are 1.25 cm across. They are edible. They contain about 20 seeds.

Edible Uses

The fruit can be eaten raw or cooked and works well in jams, pies, and jellies. It can also be dried for later use. The flavour is acidic but very palatable, and the fruit makes a particularly fine jelly. Each fruit is about 12mm in diameter. A tea can be made from the dried fruit and leaves.

Traditional Uses

The fruit are used for tarts, jams and jellies. They are sour but can be eaten raw. They are also dried for later use.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

The plant has antiseptic, astringent, carminative, and hypoglycaemic properties. A decoction of the bark has been used in the treatment of colds.

Distribution

It is a temperate plant. It does best with light shade. It grows in rocky hillsides in Alaska. They are cold hardy. It suits hardiness zones 6-10.

Where It Grows

Alaska, Asia, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Britain, Canada, China, Czech, Denmark, Estonia, Europe, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Mediterranean, Netherlands, North America, Norway, Poland, Romania, Russia, Scandinavia, Siberia, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, USA, Yugoslavia,

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. A very ornamental plant. This species is closely related to V. ovalifolium. 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

The long, straight green stems and twigs have been used to make brooms.

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

Red huckleberry

Vaccinium parvifolium

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

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

Also Known As

Red bilberry, Red whortleberry, Sqala

References (16)

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 1454
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
http://en.hortipedia.com

Show all 16 references

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 896
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 113
Moerman, D. F., 2010, Native American Ethnobotany. Timber Press. p 585
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. 3. 1817
Reis, S. V. and Lipp, F. L., 1982, New Plant Sources for Drugs and Foods from the New York Botanical Garden herbarium. Harvard. p 229
Trehane, J., 2004, Blueberries, Cranberries and Other Vacciniums. Timber Press. p 183, 239
Turner, N., 1995, Food Plants of Coastal First Peoples. Royal BC Museum Handbook p 86
www.desert-tropicals.com