Close up of leaves and edible red berries of Red Huckleberry (Vacciniun parviflorium). One of 100+ species of Pacific Northwest native plants available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants, Native Plant Nursery in Portland, Oregon.
Close up of leaves and edible red berries of Red Huckleberry (Vacciniun parviflorium). One of 100+ species of Pacific Northwest native plants available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants, Native Plant Nursery in Portland, Oregon.
Red Huckleberry plant (Vacciniun parviflorium). One of 100+ species of Pacific Northwest native plants available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants, Native Plant Nursery in Portland, Oregon.
Red Huckleberry plant growing out of a nurse log in the forest(Vacciniun parviflorium). One of 100+ species of Pacific Northwest native plants available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants, Native Plant Nursery in Portland, Oregon.

Red Huckleberry

Vaccinium parvifolium

  • Size at maturity: 3-8' tall
  • Canopy layer: large shrub
  • Light requirements:  full shade, part sun/part shade
  • Moisture requirements: moist soil
  • Special features: wildlife favorite, supports hummingbirds

The Red Huckleberry is a deciduous shrub with bright green leaves that is most commonly found in the Oregon Coast Ranges. It has 1/2” round berries that are bright reddish orange, and relatively tart when compared to the Evergreen Huckleberry. The berries, which look like salmon eggs, were once used as fishing bait. It has pale yellowish to pinkish bell shaped flowers that appear in April to June at the bases of the leaves. (Portland Plant List, 2016)

Red Huckleberry does best in an established forest garden with rich moist soil full of organic matter.

Photo Credit 1: "DSCN8995" by gertjanvannoord is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0

Photo Credit 2: "Huckleberries!" by Laurel Fan is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

Photo Credit 3 & 4: Nikkie West, Sparrowhawk Native Plants

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