st̕ixʷib
Vaccinium parvifolium – Red huckleberry
At a Glance
- Family: Ericaceae
- Plant Type: deciduous shrub
- Distribution: Pacific Coast from southeast Alaska through central California, mostly in lowland forests
- Habitat: partial to deep shade, organic-rich substrates
- Height: average of 3-6′, max 12’
- Reproduction: red berries appear from July-August, seed spreads through animal consumption
- Flowers: green-pink color, small bell shape, solitary arrangement in leaf axils
- Flowering season: April-June
- Leaves: small oval leaves, thin angular branches (green colored when young)
- Generation: perennial
- Notable features: often grows on decaying logs or stumps, frequently appears on old stumps in conjunction with Western Hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla) seedlings
Restoration/Conservation
- Berries are eaten by many songbirds, chipmunks, foxes, bears, and other mammals
- Twigs and foliage provide browse for deer, mountain goat, elk, and mountain beaver
Ethnobotany/Commercial Use
- Berries were eaten by all tribes in the region. They could be eaten fresh, mixed into cakes, or stored for the winter.
- The Skagit boiled the bark to make tea
- Huckleberries resemble salmon eggs, and were therefore used as fish bait by tribes
- Berries are widely used in preserves, jellies, or for baking, and the leaves can be dried and pressed for juice or tea
- Huckleberry tea has been taken to help alleviate glycosuria and hyperglycemia
Resources
- http://nativeplantspnw.com/red-huckleberry-vaccinium-parvifolium/
- NAEB: http://naeb.brit.org/uses/search/?string=Vaccinium+parvifolium
- USDA: https://plants.usda.gov/plantguide/pdf/cs_vapa.pdf
- WTU: https://biology.burke.washington.edu/herbarium/imagecollection/taxon.php?Taxon=Vaccinium%20parvifolium
For questions regarding the St. Edward State Park EERC Native Plant Guided Tour, contact Sarah Verlinde-Azofeifa at severlin@uw.edu.