Dwarf Huckleberry is a deciduous shrub in the heath family that is native to eastern North America from Canada to Florida. This shrub grows erect, 1-2 feet tall and branches from the base. It is found in both the coastal plains and mountains growing in pine forests in both dry and moist conditions. It spreads by rhizomes and seeds and can form small colonies. It is slow growing and may be difficult to get established. The genus Gaylussacia is named for French chemist Louis Joseph Gray-Lussac. The species epithet dumosa is from the Latin dumosus , meaning shrubby or bushy. This shrub prefers full sun to partial shade in sandy to clayish soils that are well-drained and dry to occasionally moist. It doesn't tolerate salt or brackish water. Small, white to pale pink bell to urn-shaped flowers mature in the spring followed by purplish drupes in late summer to fall. The fruit is edible but not as sweet as blueberries. The resin-dotted undersides of the leaves help distinguish it from the Vaccinium genius such as blueberries and blackberries. Use this shrub as a ground cover for sandy areas, a low barrier or hedge, along pond margins, in naturalized areas and native plantings. It is a high-value wildlife plant that the bees, butterflies and small mammals will thank you for. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
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
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Slow
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Dense; Erect; Rounded
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Gold/Yellow; Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Obovate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Leathery
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
The leathery leaves are 1 inch long and widest towards the tip with a fuzzy margin. The lower surface is glandular with yellow resin dots.
Flower color
Cream/Tan; Pink; White
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Raceme
Flower shape
Bell; Urn
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
The cream-colored, 5 petaled flowers bloom from March to June and are borne on racemes at the end of branchlets. Similar to blueberry blooms.
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Fruit color
Black; Blue; Green
Fruit type
Drupe
Fruit value
Edible
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
The fruit is a berry with 10 nutlets, each carrying one seed. It is shiny blue-black in color when mature and green when young. Displays from June to October.
Bark color
Dark Brown; Dark Gray
Bark detail
Its bark is gray-brown and finely peeling.
Stem detail
The twigs are usually copiously pubescent with short, curly hairs.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Eastern North America
Distribution
USA: AL , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , LA , MA , MD , ME , MS , NC , NH , NJ , NY , PA , RI , SC , TN , VA , WV Canada: NB , NL , NS , PE
Wildlife value
This plant provides nectar for pollinators. It is a host plant for Henry's Elfin (Callophrys henrici) larvae which appear from February to May and have one flight. Butterflies and bees are attracted to its blooms. Its fruits are eaten by birds and mammals such as raccoon, gray fox, red fox, skunk, chipmunk, squirrel, grouse, wild turkey, and quail.
Attracts
Bees; Butterflies; Pollinators; Small Mammals; Songbirds