+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| ## red huckleberry {#red-huckleberry .Title-Header}                   |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| *Vaccinium parvifolium* Sm.                                           |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Plant Symbol = VAPA                                                   |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+

Contributed by: USDA NRCS National Plant Data Center

![](media/image2.jpeg){width="3.2069444444444444in"
height="3.2819444444444446in"}Freya Holm, Evergreen State College,
Olympia, Washington

##### Alternate Names {#alternate-names .Header-3}

Red bilberry, red whortleberry

##### Uses {#uses .Header-3}

Red huckleberries are edible and widely used today for pies, jams,
jellies, and are frozen or canned. A wine can be made from the fruit.
Red huckleberries are quite tart, so some people prefer the blue
huckleberry (*Vaccinium ovatum*). The berries can be dried, mashed, or
pressed for juice. The leaves can be used fresh or dried to make tea.
Red huckleberry makes an attractive and versatile ornamental. Sometimes,
the branches are used for floral arrangements.

Red huckleberries are an important fruit and were used by virtually all
groups within the range of the plant, including the Skallam, Lummi,
Makah, Quileute, Quinault, Skagit, Skokomish, Snohomish, Swinomish, and
tribes throughout western British Columbia. The berries were eaten fresh
or pressed into cakes and dried for the winter. The Lower Chinook and
Lummi preferred the berries raw, rather than drying them. Other first
people dried the berries. Like other fruits, huckleberries were often
eaten with some type of oil or animal/fish grease, and were often mixed
with other berries, such as salal (*Gaultheria shallon*). The berries,
instead of being picked individually, are usually brushed or combed from
the twigs. Some people harvested the berries by clubbing the branches on
the hand and letting the ripe berries fall into a basket.

The Skagit boil the bark for a tea for colds. The leaves and finely
chopped stem contain quinic acid, a former therapeutic for gout said to
inhibit uric acid formation, but never widely used because of mixed
clinical results. The leaves have been widely used to lower or modify
blood sugar levels, particularly in Europe. Taken on a regular basis,
huckleberry tea will gradually help alleviate both glycosuria and
hyperglycemia and has a benign, but useful effect as an adjunct
treatment to diabetes mellitus.

*Wildlife*. Huckleberry fruits are an important food source for
songbirds, gulls, cranes, pigeons, turkeys, and upland game birds. Many
mammals, from black bears to mice, feed on red huckleberries. Herbivores
graze on the entire plant. It appears to be a favorite browse of deer.
Huckleberries and blueberries form a major part of the grizzly's and
black bear's diet in late summer and fall. Grouse feast on the leaves
and blossoms. The fruit, twigs, and foliage are eaten by foxes,
opossums, raccoons, squirrels, deer, moose, caribou, elk, pikas,
cottontail rabbits, and skunks.

##### Status {#status .Header-3}

Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural
Resources for this plant's current status (e.g. threatened or endangered
species, state noxious status, and wetland indicator values).

#####  {#section .Header-3}

##### Description {#description .Header-3}

*General*: Heath Family (Ericaceae). Red huckleberry is a deciduous
shrub from 1-4 m tall, with strongly angled twigs and bright green
stems. The 10-25 mm leaves are elliptic to ovate, thin, and with a sharp
point at the tip. The flowers are greenish to pinkish, and the blossoms
are solitary in the axils of the lowest leaves of the youngest shoots.
The berries are bright red.

*Distribution*: For current distribution, please consult the Plant
Profile page for this species on the PLANTS Web site. It grows from
southeast Alaska to central California, Oregon, and Washington, It
occurs in the lower Cascades to the coast.

*Habitat*: Red huckleberry grows on old decaying stumps or logs in moist
coniferous woods, wetlands, or in the transition zone of wetlands. It is
absent or scarce in dry woods. It is very shade tolerant. Red
huckleberry is one of the most frequent pioneering species on old stumps
in association with western hemlock (*Tsuga heterophylla*) seedlings.

##### Establishment {#establishment .Header-3}

Red huckleberry is best grown from seed or by layering. It requires
excessive drainage and acidic soils to become established. It does best
in full or partial shade. It may tolerate morning and winter sun. Red
huckleberry sprouts after plants are damages. Take cuttings from stems
in the winter, during the dormant season. It does not salvage well, so
transplanting may result in high mortality.

##### Management {#management .Header-3}

This plant grows very rapidly in moist, shady conditions. If summer
drought occurs, the plants should be watered so roots are kept fairly
moist. For the Hesquiat Indians of Vancouver Island, stumps of old
conifers become tended gardens for red huckleberry and salal berry
orchards (Turner and Efrat 1982).

Traditional resource management of this plant includes the following: 1)
occasional burning to stimulate new growth; 2) pruning the branches
after picking the berries to stimulate new growth and fruit production
the next growing season; and 3) ownership of red huckleberry shrubs
provides the basis for careful tending and sustainable yield of valued
resources.

##### Seeds and Plant Production {#seeds-and-plant-production .Header-3}

##### Collect fruit when berries are ripe (they should be bright red). Fruit ripens from July to August and is easily collected by hand picking or by beating the bush over a large bucket. Following collection, chill the fruit to 10 degrees C for several days. Clean the seeds by macerating and floating off the pulp and unsound seed. Clean the seeds carefully, since they are miniscule, so you may want to use cheesecloth to strain the seed from the pulp. {#collect-fruit-when-berries-are-ripe-they-should-be-bright-red.-fruit-ripens-from-july-to-august-and-is-easily-collected-by-hand-picking-or-by-beating-the-bush-over-a-large-bucket.-following-collection-chill-the-fruit-to-10-degrees-c-for-several-days.-clean-the-seeds-by-macerating-and-floating-off-the-pulp-and-unsound-seed.-clean-the-seeds-carefully-since-they-are-miniscule-so-you-may-want-to-use-cheesecloth-to-strain-the-seed-from-the-pulp. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-1 .Header-3}

##### Seeds dried at 15-21 degrees C for two days can be stored in a refrigerator for up to 12 years. Fresh seed not planted in the fall may germinate better if cold stratified for 1-3 months. Stored seed germinates well when exposed to alternating temperature and light regimes of 28 degrees C for 14 hours of day (light) and at 13 degrees C for 10 hours of dark. {#seeds-dried-at-15-21-degrees-c-for-two-days-can-be-stored-in-a-refrigerator-for-up-to-12-years.-fresh-seed-not-planted-in-the-fall-may-germinate-better-if-cold-stratified-for-1-3-months.-stored-seed-germinates-well-when-exposed-to-alternating-temperature-and-light-regimes-of-28-degrees-c-for-14-hours-of-day-light-and-at-13-degrees-c-for-10-hours-of-dark. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-2 .Header-3}

##### Fresh or stored and cold-stratified seeds can be sown directly into flats or small pots (a salt shaker can be used for sowing). Plant in a mixture of sand and peat moss. Seedlings will begin to emerge in a month and will continue to emerge for quite some time thereafter. Transplant seedlings into larger pots 6-7 weeks after emergence. Plant outside after the first growing season. Water as needed. Seeds are very slow to sprout and seedlings are small and grow very slowly. Seeds per kilogram: 5,268,955 -- 7,142,860 (Crossley 1974). {#fresh-or-stored-and-cold-stratified-seeds-can-be-sown-directly-into-flats-or-small-pots-a-salt-shaker-can-be-used-for-sowing.-plant-in-a-mixture-of-sand-and-peat-moss.-seedlings-will-begin-to-emerge-in-a-month-and-will-continue-to-emerge-for-quite-some-time-thereafter.-transplant-seedlings-into-larger-pots-6-7-weeks-after-emergence.-plant-outside-after-the-first-growing-season.-water-as-needed.-seeds-are-very-slow-to-sprout-and-seedlings-are-small-and-grow-very-slowly.-seeds-per-kilogram-5268955-7142860-crossley-1974. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-3 .Header-3}

##### Cultivars, Improved, and Selected Materials (and area of origin) {#cultivars-improved-and-selected-materials-and-area-of-origin .Header-3}

Contact your local Natural Resources Conservation Service (formerly Soil
Conservation Service) office for more information. Look in the phone
book under "United States Government." The Natural Resources
Conservation Service will be listed under the subheading "Department of
Agriculture."

##### References {#references .Header-3}

##### Angier, B. 1974. *Field guide to edible wild plants*. Stackpole Books. 256p. {#angier-b.-1974.-field-guide-to-edible-wild-plants.-stackpole-books.-256p. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-4 .Header-3}

##### Barton, B.J. 1997 *Gardening by mail: A source book*. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, New York. {#barton-b.j.-1997-gardening-by-mail-a-source-book.-houghton-mifflin-company-boston-new-york. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-5 .Header-3}

##### Cooke, S.S. 1997. *A field guide to the common wetland plants of western Washington and northwestern Oregon*. Seattle Audubon Society and Washington Native Plant Society. 414p. {#cooke-s.s.-1997.-a-field-guide-to-the-common-wetland-plants-of-western-washington-and-northwestern-oregon.-seattle-audubon-society-and-washington-native-plant-society.-414p. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-6 .Header-3}

##### Crossley, J.A. 1974. *Vaccinium L. blueberry*. Pp. 840-843. In: Shopmeyer, C.S (tech. coord.), Seeds of the Woody Plants in the United States. USDA Forest Service, Agric. Handbook 450, Washington, D.C. 883p. {#crossley-j.a.-1974.-vaccinium-l.-blueberry.-pp.-840-843.-in-shopmeyer-c.s-tech.-coord.-seeds-of-the-woody-plants-in-the-united-states.-usda-forest-service-agric.-handbook-450-washington-d.c.-883p. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-7 .Header-3}

##### Galloway, B. 1982. *Upper Sto:lo ethnobotany*. Coqualeetza Education Training Center, Sardis, B.C. {#galloway-b.-1982.-upper-stolo-ethnobotany.-coqualeetza-education-training-center-sardis-b.c. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-8 .Header-3}

##### Gunther, E. 1973*. Ethnobotany of Western Washington*. University of Washington Publ. in Anthropology 10(1). University of Washington Press, Seattle. {#gunther-e.-1973.-ethnobotany-of-western-washington.-university-of-washington-publ.-in-anthropology-101.-university-of-washington-press-seattle. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-9 .Header-3}

##### Harbinger, L.J. 1964. *The importance of food plants in the maintenance of Nez Perce cultural identity*. Thesis, M.A. in Anthropology. Washington State University, Seattle. {#harbinger-l.j.-1964.-the-importance-of-food-plants-in-the-maintenance-of-nez-perce-cultural-identity.-thesis-m.a.-in-anthropology.-washington-state-university-seattle. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-10 .Header-3}

##### Harrington, H.D. 1972. *Western edible wild plants*. University of New Mexico Press, Albuquerque. 156p. {#harrington-h.d.-1972.-western-edible-wild-plants.-university-of-new-mexico-press-albuquerque.-156p. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-11 .Header-3}

##### Heller, C.A. 1976. *Wild edible and poisonous plants of Alaska*. Cooperative Extension Service Bull F-40, University of Alaska, College. {#heller-c.a.-1976.-wild-edible-and-poisonous-plants-of-alaska.-cooperative-extension-service-bull-f-40-university-of-alaska-college. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-12 .Header-3}

##### Hickman, J.C. 1993. *The Jepson manual: Higher plants of California*. University of California Press, Berkeley. 1399p. {#hickman-j.c.-1993.-the-jepson-manual-higher-plants-of-california.-university-of-california-press-berkeley.-1399p. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-13 .Header-3}

##### King County Department of Public Works, Surface Water Management Division. 1994. *Northwest native plants, identification and propagation for revegetation and restoration projects*. King County, Washington. {#king-county-department-of-public-works-surface-water-management-division.-1994.-northwest-native-plants-identification-and-propagation-for-revegetation-and-restoration-projects.-king-county-washington. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-14 .Header-3}

##### 'Ksan, People of. 1980. *Gathering what the great nature provided. Food traditions of the Gitksan*. Douglas & McIntyre, Vancouver and University of Washington Press, Seattle. {#ksan-people-of.-1980.-gathering-what-the-great-nature-provided.-food-traditions-of-the-gitksan.-douglas-mcintyre-vancouver-and-university-of-washington-press-seattle. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-15 .Header-3}

##### Kunlein, H.V. & N.J. Turner. 1991. *Traditional plant foods of Canadian indigenous peoples. Nutrition, botany and use*. Food and Nutrition in History and Anthropology, Volume 8. Gordon and Breach Science Publishers. 632p. {#kunlein-h.v.-n.j.-turner.-1991.-traditional-plant-foods-of-canadian-indigenous-peoples.-nutrition-botany-and-use.-food-and-nutrition-in-history-and-anthropology-volume-8.-gordon-and-breach-science-publishers.-632p. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-16 .Header-3}

##### Leigh, M. (August) 1997. *Grow your own native landscape: A guide to identifying, propagating, and landscaping with western Washington native plants*. Environmental Protection Agency, The Washington State Department of Ecology, and Washington State University Cooperative Extension. {#leigh-m.-august-1997.-grow-your-own-native-landscape-a-guide-to-identifying-propagating-and-landscaping-with-western-washington-native-plants.-environmental-protection-agency-the-washington-state-department-of-ecology-and-washington-state-university-cooperative-extension. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-17 .Header-3}

##### Martin, A.C., H.S. Zim, and A.L. Nelson. 1951. *American wildlife and plants: A guide to wildlife food habits*. Dover Publication, Inc., New York. 500p. {#martin-a.c.-h.s.-zim-and-a.l.-nelson.-1951.-american-wildlife-and-plants-a-guide-to-wildlife-food-habits.-dover-publication-inc.-new-york.-500p. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-18 .Header-3}

##### Moore, M. 1979. *Medicinal plants of the mountain west*. Museum of New Mexico Press, Albuquerque. 200p. {#moore-m.-1979.-medicinal-plants-of-the-mountain-west.-museum-of-new-mexico-press-albuquerque.-200p. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-19 .Header-3}

##### Norton, H.H. 1981. *Plant use in Kaigani Haida culture: Correction of an ethnohistorical oversight*. Econ. Botany 35:434-449. {#norton-h.h.-1981.-plant-use-in-kaigani-haida-culture-correction-of-an-ethnohistorical-oversight.-econ.-botany-35434-449. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-20 .Header-3}

##### Randall, W.R., R.F. Keniston, D.N. Bever, & E.C. Jensen. 1994. *Manual of Oregon trees and shrubs*. Oregon State University Bookstore, Corvallis. 305p. {#randall-w.r.-r.f.-keniston-d.n.-bever-e.c.-jensen.-1994.-manual-of-oregon-trees-and-shrubs.-oregon-state-university-bookstore-corvallis.-305p. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-21 .Header-3}

##### Rose, R., C.E.C. Chachulski, & D Haase. 1998. *Propagation of Pacific Northwest native plants*. Oregon State University Press, Corvallis. {#rose-r.-c.e.c.-chachulski-d-haase.-1998.-propagation-of-pacific-northwest-native-plants.-oregon-state-university-press-corvallis. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-22 .Header-3}

##### Stevens, M. & R. Vanbianchi. 1993. *Restoring wetlands in Washington. A guidebook for wetland restoration, planning and implementation*. Washington State Department of Ecology Publication 93-17. {#stevens-m.-r.-vanbianchi.-1993.-restoring-wetlands-in-washington.-a-guidebook-for-wetland-restoration-planning-and-implementation.-washington-state-department-of-ecology-publication-93-17. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-23 .Header-3}

##### Turner, N.J., L.C. Thompson, M.T. Thompson, & A.Z. York. 1990*. Thompson ethnobotany: Knowledge and usage of plants by the Thompson Indians of British Columbia*. Royal British Columbia Museum Memoirs No. 3, Victoria. {#turner-n.j.-l.c.-thompson-m.t.-thompson-a.z.-york.-1990.-thompson-ethnobotany-knowledge-and-usage-of-plants-by-the-thompson-indians-of-british-columbia.-royal-british-columbia-museum-memoirs-no.-3-victoria. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-24 .Header-3}

##### Turner, N.J., J. Thomas, B.F. Carlson, & R.T. Ogilvie. 1983*. Ethnobotany of the Nitinaht Indians of Vancouver Island*. B.C. Provincial Museum Occasional Paper No. 24, Victoria. 165p. {#turner-n.j.-j.-thomas-b.f.-carlson-r.t.-ogilvie.-1983.-ethnobotany-of-the-nitinaht-indians-of-vancouver-island.-b.c.-provincial-museum-occasional-paper-no.-24-victoria.-165p. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-25 .Header-3}

##### Turner, N.J. & B.S. Efrat. 1982*. Ethnobotany of the Hesquiat Indians of Vancouver Island*. B.C. Provincial Museum Cultural Recovery Paper No. 2. Victoria. 99p. {#turner-n.j.-b.s.-efrat.-1982.-ethnobotany-of-the-hesquiat-indians-of-vancouver-island.-b.c.-provincial-museum-cultural-recovery-paper-no.-2.-victoria.-99p. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-26 .Header-3}

##### Turner, N.J. 1975. *Food plants of British Columbia Indians. Part I. Coastal peoples*. B.C. Provincial Museum Handbook No. 34, Victoria. {#turner-n.j.-1975.-food-plants-of-british-columbia-indians.-part-i.-coastal-peoples.-b.c.-provincial-museum-handbook-no.-34-victoria. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-27 .Header-3}

##### USDA NRCS. 2007. *The PLANTS web site*. Accessed 070118. http://plants.usda.gov. National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. {#usda-nrcs.-2007.-the-plants-web-site.-accessed-070118.-httpplants.usda.gov.-national-plant-data-center-baton-rouge-louisiana. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-28 .Header-3}

##### Vanbianchi, R., M. Stevens, T. Sullivan, & S Hashisaki. 1994. *A citizen's guide to wetland restoration*. USEPA Region 10. 71p. {#vanbianchi-r.-m.-stevens-t.-sullivan-s-hashisaki.-1994.-a-citizens-guide-to-wetland-restoration.-usepa-region-10.-71p. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-29 .Header-3}

##### Young, J.A. & C.G. Young. 1974. *Collecting, processing, and germinating seeds of wildland plants*. Timber Press, Portland. {#young-j.a.-c.g.-young.-1974.-collecting-processing-and-germinating-seeds-of-wildland-plants.-timber-press-portland. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-30 .Header-3}

##### Prepared By {#prepared-by .Header-3}

Michelle Stevens, formerly USDA NRCS NPDC, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

And

Dale C. Darris, USDA NRCS Oregon PMC, Corvallis, Oregon

##### Species Coordinator {#species-coordinator .Header-3}

M. Kat Anderson, USDA NRCS National Plant Data Center, Davis, California

##### Edited: 070118 jsp {#edited-070118-jsp .Header-4}

For more information about this and other plants, please contact your
local NRCS field office or Conservation District, and visit the PLANTS
Web site\<[http://plants.usda.gov](http://plants.usda.gov/)\> or the
Plant Materials Program Web site
\<[http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov](http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov/)\>

*The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in
all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national
origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual
orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases
apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require
alternative means for communication of program information (Braille,
large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA\'s [TARGET
Center](http://www.usda.gov/oo/target.htm) at 202-720-2600 (voice and
TDD).*

*To file a complaint of discrimination write USDA, Director, Office of
Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence
Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call 202-720-5964 (voice or
TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.*

*Read about [Civil Rights at the Natural Resources Convervation
Service](http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/about/civilrights/).*