Hansen's Northwest Native Plant Database

Vaccinium cespitosum (Dwarf Huckleberry, Dwarf Blueberry)

Kingdom Plantae – Plants

Subkingdom Tracheobionta – Vascular plants

Superdivision Spermatophyta – Seed plants

Division Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants

Class Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons

Subclass Dilleniidae

Order Ericales

Family Ericaceae – Heath family

Genus Vaccinium L. – blueberry

Species Vaccinium cespitosum Michx. – dwarf bilberry

This low, matted deciduous huckleberry grows to about 6" tall and suckers freely to fill in an empty spot in the garden.

Flowers are tiny, white-pink urns and the berries are blue with a pale gray bloom -- sweet and delicious!

Found in bogs and alpine tundra from Alaska to California, Dwarf Huckleberry is hardy from USDA zones 2-10.

Native groups cherished the berries and practiced controlled burning to encourage their growth.

This plant needs acidic soil, so add elemental sulfur and peat moss to the planting hole and/or mulch with shredded oak leaves or pine needles.

Consider growing it in the shade of Pacific Rhododendron (Rhododendron macrophyllum) or Western Azalea (Rhododendron occidentale) as it does well in shade and needs a similarly moist and acidic soil.

For a short comparison of northwest native huckleberry family plants, click here.