Page author: David Giblin
Vaccinium ovatum
evergreen huckleberry
Specimens
Photos

Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California.

Habitat: Coniferous forests at low elevations.

Flowers: April-August

Origin: Native

Growth Duration: Perennial

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Pollination: Bumblebees, bees

Description:
General:

Evergreen, spreading to upright shrub, 0.5-4 m. tall, the young stems pubescent.

Leaves:

Leaves alternate, aligned horizontally along the stem, short-petiolate, ovate to ovate-lanceolate, leathery, bright gloss-green on the upper surface, lighter beneath, the margins thickened and sharply serrulate.

Flowers:

Flowers axillary in 3- to 10-flowered racemes; corolla entire, bright pinkish, narrowly bell-shaped, about 7.5 mm. long, the 5 lobes short and spreading; filaments densely pubescent; anthers with long, straight pore-bearing tubes but without awns; ovary inferior.

Fruits:

Fruit a berry, deep purplish-black, 4-7 mm. broad, glaucous or shining.

Identification Notes:

Our only Vaccinium species with leathery, evergreen leaves and flowers in recemes.

Accepted Name:
Vaccinium ovatum Pursh
Publication: Fl. Amer. Sept. 1: 290. 1813.

Synonyms & Misapplications:
Vaccinium ovatum Pursh var. saporosum Jeps.
Additional Resources:

PNW Herbaria: Specimen records of Vaccinium ovatum in the Consortium of Pacific Northwest Herbaria database.

WA Flora Checklist: Vaccinium ovatum checklist entry.

OregonFlora: Vaccinium ovatum information.

E-Flora BC: Vaccinium ovatum atlas page.

CalPhotos: Vaccinium ovatum photos.

USDA Plants: Vaccinium ovatum information.

22 photographs:
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