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Vaccinium ovalifolium - J.E.Sm.

Common Name Black Huckleberry, Oval-leaf blueberry
Family Ericaceae
USDA hardiness 3-7
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Thickets, open woods and peaty slopes[43].
Range Northern N. America - Quebec to Michigan, Oregon and Alaska.
Edibility Rating    (3 of 5)
Other Uses    (0 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (1 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Vaccinium ovalifolium Black Huckleberry, Oval-leaf blueberry


commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Wsiegmund
Vaccinium ovalifolium Black Huckleberry, Oval-leaf blueberry
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Wsiegmund

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of shrub
Vaccinium ovalifolium is a deciduous Shrub growing to 3 m (9ft 10in).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 3. It is in flower in June. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects.
Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid soils and can grow in very acid soils.
It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Plant Habitats

Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit
Edible Uses:

Fruit - raw or cooked[105, 118, 161, 172, 257]. Mildly acidic[11, 200]. A pleasant sweet flavour[212]. The fruit is a reasonable source of vitamin C[257]. The fruit can also be dried for later use[183] when they have a flavour like raisins[256]. The fruit is about 10mm in diameter[200].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

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Antiseptic  Astringent  Birthing aid  Carminative  Hypoglycaemic  Vitamin C

Antiseptic, astringent, carminative, hypoglycaemic[172]. An infusion of the leaves and sugar have been given to a mother after childbirth[257].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

None known

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Requires a moist but freely-draining lime free soil, preferring one that is rich in peat or a light loamy soil with added leaf-mould[11, 200]. Prefers a very acid soil with a pH in the range of 4.5 to 6, plants soon become chlorotic when lime is present. Succeeds in full sun or light shade though it fruits better in a sunny position[200]. Requires shelter from strong winds[200]. Dislikes root disturbance, plants are best grown in pots until being planted out in their permanent positions[200]. The fruit is borne singly rather than in clusters[183]. This species is closely related to V. parvifolium[182]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[200].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

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Plant Propagation

Seed - sow late winter in a greenhouse in a lime-free potting mix and only just cover the seed[78]. Stored seed might require a period of up to 3 months cold stratification[113]. Another report says that it is best to sow the seed in a greenhouse as soon as it is ripe[200]. Once they are about 5cm tall, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a lightly shaded position in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 5 - 8cm with a heel, August in a frame[78]. Slow and difficult. Layering in late summer or early autumn[78]. Another report says that spring is the best time to layer[200]. Takes 18 months[78]. Division of suckers in spring or early autumn[113].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

TEMPERATE ASIA: Russian Federation (Kurile Islands (south), Primorye, Kamcatskij kraj, Sakhalin), Japan (Hokkaidô, Honshu (central & north)) NORTHERN AMERICA: Canada (Yukon (south), Québec (southeast), Nova Scotia, Ontario (south), Newfoundland and Labrador, Alberta, British Columbia), United States (Alaska (south), Michigan (north), South Dakota (west), Idaho, Oregon, Washington)

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Vaccinium alaskaenseAlaska BlueberryShrub1.8 -  LMSNM20 
Vaccinium amoenumLarge-Cluster BlueberryShrub4.0 4-8  LMSNMWe20 
Vaccinium angustifoliumLow Sweet Blueberry, Lowbush blueberryShrub0.2 2-6  LMSNDM310
Vaccinium angustifolium laevifoliumLow Sweet BlueberryShrub0.6 2-6  LMSNDM300
Vaccinium arboreumFarkleberryTree5.0 6-9  LMSNM213
Vaccinium arbusculaDwarf bilberryShrub0.6 0-0  LMSNMWe10 
Vaccinium arctostaphylosCaucasian WhortleberryShrub3.0 5-9  LMSNM300
Vaccinium asheiRabbiteye BlueberryShrub5.0 7-10  LMSNM20 
Vaccinium australeNorthern BlueberryShrub1.5 2-7 MLMSNM412
Vaccinium bracteatumSea BilberryShrub1.0 6-9  LMSNM11 
Vaccinium brittonii Shrub2.0 -  LMSNDM10 
Vaccinium caesarienseNew Jersey blueberryShrub1.5 -  LMSNMWe20 
Vaccinium caespitosumDwarf BilberryShrub0.3 0-0  LMSNM310
Vaccinium ciliatum Shrub2.0 -  LMSNM10 
Vaccinium constablaeiHillside BlueberryShrub1.0 -  LMSNM30 
Vaccinium corymbosumHigh-Bush Blueberry, American Blueberry, Swamp Blueberry, BlueberryShrub2.0 3-8 MLMSNM410
Vaccinium crassifoliumCreeping BlueberryShrub0.1 6-9  LMSNM302
Vaccinium cylindraceum Shrub3.0 9-11  LMSNM20 
Vaccinium darrowiiDarrow's blueberryShrub0.0 0-0  LMSNDM10 
Vaccinium deliciosumAlpine Blueberry, Cascade bilberryShrub0.3 5-9  LMSNM300
Vaccinium duclouxii Shrub3.0 8-11  LMSNM30 
Vaccinium elliottiiElliott's blueberryShrub4.0 5-9  LMSNM10 
Vaccinium erythrocarpumSouthern Mountain CranberryShrub1.5 5-9  LMSNM300
Vaccinium formosumSwamp Highbush Blueberry, Southern blueberryShrub4.0 5-9  LMSNM300
Vaccinium fuscatumBlack Highbush BlueberryShrub3.5 4-8  LMSNMWe300
Vaccinium hirsutumHairy HuckleberryShrub0.0 5-9  LMSNM30 
Vaccinium hirtum Shrub1.0 5-9  LMSNM10 
Vaccinium japonicum Shrub0.7 5-9  LMSNM20 
Vaccinium koreanum Shrub0.0 -  LMSNM10 
Vaccinium leucanthum Shrub0.0 -  LMSNM10 
123

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

J.E.Sm.

Botanical References

1143200

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