Gaylussacia frondosa

Gaylussacia frondosa is a species of flowering plant in the heath family known by the common names dangleberry and blue huckleberry. It is native to the eastern United States, where it occurs from New Hampshire to South Carolina. This shrub grows up to two meters (80 inches) tall. The plant spreads via rhizome, sprouting up new stems to form colonies. The leaves are up to 6 centimeters (2.4 inches) long by 3 cm (1.2 inches) wide. They are hairy and glandular. The inflorescence contains 1 to 4 flowers that hang on pedicels up to 2 centimeters (0.8 inch) long. The flower is bell-shaped and greenish white. The fruit is a juicy, sweet-tasting drupe which is usually blue but may be black or white. This plant grows on the Atlantic coastal plain. It grows in wooded areas and next to bogs and swamps. It is common in the pine barrens of New Jersey. It grows on acidic soils low in nutrients. It grows with other related plants such as highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum), hillside blueberry (V. pallidum), Lyonia spp., sheep-laurel (Kalmia angustifolia), wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens), dwarf huckleberry (Gaylussacia dumosa), and black huckleberry (G. baccata). Many animals eat the berries and disperse the seeds.

Description

A small shrub. It grows 1-2 m tall. The stems are long and arching. The flowers are small and pinkish-green. The fruit are large, bluish and rather acid.

Edible Uses

The fruit can be eaten raw or cooked — sweet and juicy, it is good to eat. The fruit is about 8mm in diameter.

Traditional Uses

The fruit can be eaten raw. They are also used in puddings, fruit salads and jellies.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

None known.

Distribution

It is a temperate plant.

Where It Grows

North America*, USA,

Propagation

Seed is best sown in autumn in a cold frame. Stored seed requires 1 month of warm stratification followed by 2 months cold. Once large enough to handle, prick seedlings out into individual pots of lime-free compost and grow on in light shade in a greenhouse or cold frame for at least their first winter. Plant out into permanent positions in late spring or early summer when at least 15cm tall. Cuttings of half-ripe wood can be taken in July/August in a frame. Layering and division in spring are also suitable methods.

Other Uses

None known.

Notes

There are about 42 Gaylussacia species in tropical America.

Synonyms

References (12)

• Elias, T.S. & Dykeman P.A., 1990, Edible Wild Plants. A North American Field guide. Sterling, New York p 167
• Facciola, S., 1998, Cornucopia 2: a Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, p 96
• Glowinski, L., 1999, The Complete Book of Fruit Growing in Australia. Lothian. p 166
• Hedrick, U.P., 1919, (Ed.), Sturtevant's edible plants of the world. p 326
• John, L., & Stevenson, V., 1979, The Complete Book of Fruit. Angus & Robertson p 286

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