Vaccinium ovatum
Common name:
Box Huckleberry
Evergreen Huckleberry
Pronunciation:
vak-SIN-ee-um o-VA-tum
Family:
Ericaceae
Genus:
Type:
Broadleaf
Native to (or naturalized in) Oregon:
Yes
- Broadleaf, evergreen shrub, 3-5(8) ft [0.9-1.5(2.4) m], neat, erect, compact generally, but can have erratic growth habit (e.g., some long erect shoots). Leaves small, alternate, oval to lanceolate, 4 cm long, toothed, leathery, glossy dark green, generally closely spaced along reddish stems. (Used in the florist industry.) Pale pink, urn-shaped flowers borne on short racemes in spring. Fruit at first is red, turning blue-black in late summer, edible.
- Sun to part shade
- Hardy to USDA Zone 7 Found along the Pacific Coast from British Columbia to California. Introduced into cultivation by David Douglas in 1826.
-
There are a small number of cultivars of Vaccinium ovatum, but few are widely available. Recently, two cultivars were released by Oregon State University, they are:
- ‘Cascade Jewel’ – upright habit, 3.5 ft high x 3 ft wide, heavy flowering, large pendulous clusters, fruit medium to large, about 8 mm.
- Cascade Sunburst™ - foliage emerges coral, gradually turning green with creamy variegation, size at maturity, 4 ft tall and wide, glossy purple-black berries
- ovatum: ovate, egg-shaped, with broad end at base
- Corvallis: Central Park, south side, east of Gazebo.
- Oregon State Univ. campus: east side Gilmore Hall.
Click image to enlarge
-
plant habit, spring flowering
-
flowering shoot
-
leaves and flowers
-
flower and flower buds
-
flower
-
plant habit, spring
-
new growth, spring
-
plant habit, summer
-
leafy shoot
-
plant habit, fruiting
-
leaves and fruit, Sept.
-
leaves and fruit, winter
