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Gaylussacia brachycera - (Michx.)A.Gray.

Common Name Box Huckleberry
Family Ericaceae
USDA hardiness 5-9
Known Hazards None known
Habitats On slopes and in dry sandy woods[43] on dry acidic sandy soils[200].
Range Eastern N. America - Delaware and Pennsylvania to Virginia.
Edibility Rating    (2 of 5)
Other Uses    (2 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Well drained soil Moist Soil Full shade Semi-shade Full sun
Gaylussacia brachycera Box Huckleberry


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Choess
Gaylussacia brachycera Box Huckleberry
USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. An illustrated flora of the northern United States, Canada and the British Possessions. Vol. 2: 696.

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of shrub
Gaylussacia brachycera is an evergreen Shrub growing to 0.5 m (1ft 8in) by 1 m (3ft 3in).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 6. It is in leaf all year, in flower from May to June. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs).
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid soils and can grow in very acid soils.
It can grow in full shade (deep woodland) semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Vaccinium brachycerum. V. buxifolium.

Plant Habitats

Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade; Shady Edge; not Deep Shade; Ground Cover;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit
Edible Uses:

Fruit - raw or cooked[3, 62]. Not highly regarded[183]. Tasteless[177, 200]. The fruit is about 12mm in diameter[200].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


None known

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

A good ground cover plant[200]. Spreading quite freely, it should be spaced about 30cm apart each way[208].

Special Uses

Food Forest  Ground cover

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Requires a lime-free moist peaty soil, thriving in sun or part shade[182, 200]. Prefers a position in partial or full shade[208]. Plants are hardy to about -15°c[200]. This species rarely sets viable seed[200]. There is a colony in New Jersey that covers 3.8 hectares of land, it is estimated to be 10,000 years old and to have originated vegetatively from one single mother plant[200]. For polyculture design as well as the above-ground architecture (form - tree, shrub etc. and size shown above) information on the habit and root pattern is also useful and given here if available. An evergreen. A clumping mat former. Forming a dense prostrate carpet spreading indefinitely [1-2].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Plant Propagation

Seed - best sown in the autumn in a cold frame[200]. Stored seed requires 1 month warm stratification followed by 2 months cold[113]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots of lime-free compost and grow them on in light shade in a greenhouse or cold frame for at least their first winter. Plant out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer when they are at least 15cm tall. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame[200]. Layering. Division in spring.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

NORTHERN AMERICA: United States, Pennsylvania (southeast), West Virginia, Kentucky, Maryland, Tennessee, Virginia,

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
Gaylussacia baccataBlack HuckleberryShrub1.0 5-9  LMHSNDM410
Gaylussacia dumosaDwarf HuckleberryShrub0.3 5-9  LMSNM300
Gaylussacia frondosaDangleberry, Blue huckleberryShrub1.8 5-9  LMHSNDM300
Gaylussacia ursinaBear HuckleberryShrub1.8 5-9  LMHSNM20 

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

(Michx.)A.Gray.

Botanical References

1143200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

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