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.