Dangleberry 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 native, blueberry-like shrub in the Ericaceae family. It has distinctive resin dots that only occur on the lower surface of the leaves, and a large, open, lax inflorescence that gives it another common name, dangleberry. This is a huckleberry of the Atlantic coastal plain. It proliferates rapidly from rhizomes when disturbed. It is deciduous to semi-evergreen found on forest edges, meadows, wetland margins, and fields. The fruit is very edible and tasty to humans and wildlife.
- 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
- Fire Risk Rating:
- low flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- This plant is moderately resistant to damage from deer. It is a host plant for Henry Elfin's butterfly. 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.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Edible
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- 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 pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Piedmont
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Blue
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Description:
- Blue-black oval berries
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- White
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Bell
- Cup
- Flower Description:
- In the spring, small white to pink bell or cup-shaped flowers mature on the Blue huckleberry. They are followed by a blue to black edible berry.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- They have a fuzzy margin and 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 finely peeling.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Buds:
- Scaly
- Stem Description:
- Its twigs are brown, green or red. There are three or more scales on the winter buds, and they overlap like shingles, with one edge covered and the other edge exposed.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Fire
- Wet Soil
- Plants that fill a similar niche:
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Itea virginica
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Tilia americana
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Quercus phellos
