Vaccinium scoparium

Leiberg ex Coville

Grouseberry

Ericaceae Edible: Fruit, Leaves - tea Potential hazards — see below 4,871 iNaturalist observations

Has a deadly poisonous lookalike — see comparison below

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Summary

Vaccinium scoparium is a species of huckleberry known by the common names grouse whortleberry, grouseberry, and littleleaf huckleberry.

Description

A small shrub. It grows 10-20 cm high. The branches are angular and they remain green for several years. It has rhizomes that form shoots along their length. It loses its leaves during the year. The leaves are about 1 cm long. They are bright green on both sides. There are fine teeth around the edge. The flowers occur singly in the axils of the leaves. They are small and urn shaped. They are pale pink. The fruit are bright coral red berries. They are 5 mm across. They are tart but edible.

Edible Uses

The fruit can be eaten raw or cooked and is used in pies, jellies, jams, breads, and muffins. Dried fruits can be used to flavour other foods or to thicken soups. Each fruit is about 4–6mm in diameter. Fresh or dried leaves can be used to make a tea.

Traditional Uses

The fruit are eaten raw with sugar and cream. They can be cooked into a sauce or made into jams, jellies, muffins, bread or pancakes. Fruit can be dried for later use. Fruit are used to flavour other foods and to thicken soups. Fresh or dried leaves can be used for tea.

Medicinal Uses

The plant has antiseptic, astringent, carminative, and hypoglycaemic properties. An infusion of dried, pulverized leaves has been used to treat nausea and to stimulate appetite. Dried and powdered fruits have been given to children to improve their appetite.

Known Hazards

None listed.

Distribution

It is a cold temperate plant. It grows near the timberline on moist alpine slopes in the Rocky Mountains. It is very cold hardy.

Where It Grows

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. Requires shelter from strong winds. Dislikes root disturbance, plants are best grown in pots until being planted out in their permanent positions. 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 branches can be used as brooms.

Production

The fruit are small and are brushed off the plants into a mat then separated from trash by winnowing in the wind.

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

Grouseberry

Vaccinium scoparium

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

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

Synonyms

V. erythrococcum. V. microphyllum. non Bl. V. myrtillus microphyllum.

Also Known As

Dwarf red whortleberry, Pink-fruited grouse-berry, Small-leaved huckleberry, Red alpine blueberry

References (14)

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)
Cormack, R. G. H., 1967, Wild Flowers of Alberta. Commercial Printers Edmonton, Canada. p 255
Facciola, S., 1998, Cornucopia 2: a Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, p 99
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 896

Show all 14 references

Lyle, S., 2006, Discovering fruit and nuts. Land Links. p 223
MacKinnon, A., et al, 2009, Edible & Medicinal Plants of Canada. Lone Pine. p 116
Mazama 1:196. 1897
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/
Porsild, A.E., 1974, Rocky Mountain Wild Flowers. Natural History Series No. 2 National Museums of Canada. p 320
Scotter, G. W., & Flygare, H., 1993, Wildflowers of the Canadian Rockies. Hurtig. p 110
Stubbs, R. D., 1966, An investigation of the Edible and Medicinal Plants used by the Flathead Indians. MA thesis University of Montana. p 41
Turner, N., 1997, Food Plants of Interior First Peoples. Royal BC Museum Handbook p 122