Blue Huckleberry Gaylussacia frondosa
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- gay-luh-SAY-shee-uh frond-OH-suh
- Description
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Blue Huckleberry is a deciduous shrub in the heath family that is native to the eastern USA from NH to SC. The habitat is along the Atlantic coastal plain in woodland edges, fields and meadows near bogs and swamps. This shrub may grow 2 to 4 feet tall and wide and spreads by rhizomes forming colonies that provide shelter and food for birds and mammals.
In spring the shrub produces small white to pink bell-shaped flowers followed by an edible blue-black or sometimes white fruit in summer. The fruit hangs in loose groups giving it the common name of dangleberry.
This plant prefers moist acidic soil low in nutrients and full to partial sun conditions. Use this shrub in naturalized areas, woodland gardens, or the margins of ponds and bogs. It will attract a variety of wildlife for you to enjoy.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Gaylussacia
- Species:
- frondosa
- Family:
- Ericaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern U.S.A
- Distribution:
- NH to SC
- Fire Risk Rating:
- low flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- This plant provides nectar for pollinators. It is a host plant for Henry's Elfin butterfly (Callophrys henrici) larvae which appear from February to May and have one flight. Adult Henry's Elfin butterflies feed on flower nectar. Butterflies are attracted to its blooms. Its thickets provide cover for wildlife, while birds including grouse, bobwhite, scarlet tanagers and wild turkeys eat the berries.
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- fire in the landscape.
- Edibility:
- Fruits are highly edible and enjoyed by humans and wildlife alike.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Edible
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Multi-stemmed
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- 3 feet-6 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Piedmont
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Blue
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Drupe
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Oval berries with a single seed are green maturing to blue-black from June to August.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Bell
- Cup
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- In the spring, small white to pink bell or cup-shaped flowers appear in loose racemes in the axils of older stems
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Orange
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Oblong
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- The green leaves are 1-3 inches long and 1/2 to 1.5 inches wide. They have hairs with yellow resin dots on the underside.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Dark Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Peeling
- Bark Description:
- The bark is gray-brown and smooth to finely peeling.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Buds:
- Scaly
- Stem Bud Scales:
- Enclosed in more than 2 scales
- Stem Cross Section:
- Round
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Its twigs are brown, green or red and a few some hairs may be present. The oval buds have three or more scales that overlap like shingles.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Pond
- Riparian
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rain Garden
- Design Feature:
- Hedge
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Fire
- Wet Soil
