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.
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
Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Wet
Available space
12 inches-3 feet; 3 feet-6 feet
NC region
Coastal; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in. | Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Slow
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
3 - Shrub (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Multi-stemmed
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Oblong
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
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.
Fall color
Orange
Flower color
Pink; White
Flower form
Raceme
Flower shape
Bell; Cup
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
In the spring, small white to pink bell or cup-shaped flowers appear in loose racemes in the axils of older stems
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Black; Blue
Fruit type
Drupe
Fruit value
Edible
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Oval berries with a single seed are green maturing to blue-black from June to August.
Bark color
Dark Brown; Dark Gray
Bark detail
The bark is gray-brown and smooth to finely peeling.
Stem color
Brown/Copper; Green; Red/Burgundy
Stem detail
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.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Eastern U.S.A
Distribution
NH to SC
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.
Attracts
Bees; Butterflies; Hummingbirds; Pollinators; Small Mammals
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Fruit
Harvest time
Summer
Fruit type
Drupe
Edibility
Fruits are highly edible and enjoyed by humans and wildlife alike.