I was pondering what about what to talk about in this blog at the end of July when a friend invited me over for dinner. She served a wonderful meal, but the most exciting part was the delicious huckleberry pie she had created from huckleberries she had picked last year and frozen. “Well,” I thought to myself as I forked the crumbs off the plate, “Now I know what plant to feature!”
There are actually two types of native huckleberries in Oregon: the evergreen (Vaccinium ovatum) and the deciduous – also known as “red huckleberry”- (V. Parvifolium). They both make nice ornamental shrubs in a woodland garden and will grow well in sun or part shade. Protect new plants from afternoon sun. They also both like an acidic, moist but well-drained soil, and will love a top dressing of organic compost each spring, too. Huckleberries can be used as part of a mixed border, too. My friend grows hers in a large huckleberry patch.
The evergreen is dense and compact with an upright, bushy growth pattern. They will grow from 3 to 12 feet tall and 5 to 10 feet wide if left to expand. I have read that they grow taller and wider in the shade than they do in full sun. As my evergreen huckleberry is in part shade, left to its own devices, it could get to be quite tall. But it is next to the house under my kitchen window, so I prune mine each fall so I can see out the window without any problem. The new growth comes back with reddish foliage and is very pretty.
Mature leaves are small, ovoid and shiny green. Late spring sees the formation of small pink bell-shaped flowers. This particular year, the berries have started to ripen early, like a lot of other plants. They are small and very dark blue. If you can keep the birds from eating all of them, the berries can stay on the shrub until December. Some folks say they even taste better after the first frost. They are easily frozen for later use. They do make wonderful jams, jellies and pies, but because the berries are so small, you will need to pick a lot. Many florists will use evergreen huckleberry branches for backgrounds in their arrangements.
Evergreen huckleberries can be moved from the wild (with permission from the state or the landowners, of course) and will often do okay, but I recommend buying potted ones from a reputable nursery. They will grow slowly the first two to three years, but soon fill out quickly into a dense shrub. Keep these young plants well-watered but be careful not to over-water.
The red huckleberries have an entirely different form and shape. They have thin green branches that form a cascading shape making this a very pretty feature in the winter garden. It is a slower growing plant and will reach 4 to 12 feet tall and 6 feet wide. The red huckleberry’s leaves are also ovoid but are a lighter green than the evergreen huckleberry. The spring flowers are whiter - or even a tad on the green side- than the evergreen flowers, and they form a very showy, bright red edible berry. They are also good in pies, jams and jellies. Native Americans often would mix the red huckleberries with other woodland berries like salal. They were considered to be a prized local berry and were sometimes used as fish bait in streams.
While these are native plants to the Pacific Northwest, there might be occasional pest problems. Caterpillars and scale (insects) are sporadic pests. Gray mold, crown and root rots, powdery mildew and rust can also be potential problems. Having good air flow and well-drained soil around these plants will help with these diseases.
Because these are woodland plants, once established they can weather some summer dryness. But watering during very dry spells will improve the appearance as well as the crop of berries.
Although I have never raced the local bird population to harvest my personal huckleberries, after the wonderful dessert we had, I have a new respect for these berries and will keep a sharp eye out my kitchen window for the first signs of ripeness.
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