Ericaceae: Vaccinium membranaceum
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Family Name
Ericaceae
Common Name
Mountain huckleberry
Description
Vaccinium membranaceum is a perennial, deciduous shrub with a shallow, fibrous root system. Mature plants typically reach 30–90 cm in height. Stems are slender, erect to spreading, and covered with smooth bark that becomes reddish-brown with age. Leaves are alternate, simple, broadly ovate to elliptic, 1–5 cm long and 0.5–3 cm wide, with finely serrated margins and an acute tip. The upper leaf surface is dark green and glabrous or sparsely hairy, while the lower surface is paler and often glaucous or slightly hairy. Petioles are short, 2–5 mm long. Flowering occurs from May to July, with inflorescences forming short racemes or clusters of 3–10 nodding, bell-shaped flowers 5–10 mm long. Flowers have five fused sepals forming a small green calyx 1.5–2 mm long, and five fused petals forming a white to pale pink, urn-shaped corolla 4–7 mm long with a slightly flared mouth. Stamens number ten, with filaments often hairy near the base and anthers with terminal pores releasing pollen via vibration (buzz-pollination). The pistil consists of a single ovary with a slender style and a small stigma. The fruit is a round, juicy berry, 6–12 mm in diameter, dark blue to nearly black with a smooth, glossy skin, maturing from August to September. Mountain huckleberry is native to South Dakota's Black Hills and western regions, typically found in montane forests, subalpine meadows, and rocky slopes, preferring acidic, well-drained soils under partial shade.
Horticulture Notes
Seed collection: Collect ripe berries in late summer to early fall (August–September); extract seeds by maceration and washing.
Germination: Seeds require cold, moist stratification (90–120 days) to break dormancy; sow in fall or stratify and sow in spring.
Vegetative propagation: Propagated by softwood cuttings or layering; root suckers occasionally form.
Soils: Prefers acidic, well-drained soils rich in organic matter; tolerates rocky, sandy substrates.
Light: Thrives in partial shade to full sun, with best fruiting in dappled light or open canopy.
Water: Prefers moist soils; tolerates moderate drought but not prolonged dryness or waterlogging.
Vaccinium membranaceum is notoriously difficult to cultivate, as it prefers specific, acidic (pH 4.3–5.5), well-drained, organic-rich soil in cool, partial-shade environments. It is best grown in pots before transplanting, requiring consistent moisture during the first 1–3 years and minimal pruning. Propagation is achieved through fall-sown seeds or, with difficulty, by cuttings.
Additional Notes
Mountain huckleberry is valued horticulturally for its edible, flavorful berries and as an attractive native shrub for naturalized plantings and wildlife gardens. Ecologically, it provides important food for birds, bears, and other wildlife, and its flowers support native pollinators. Its fruit is harvested both commercially and traditionally by indigenous peoples.