Western huckleberries

We use the name huckleberry for many different plants throughout North America. The most widely known huckleberries are native to the eastern and southeastern United States and belong to four species found in the genus Gaylussacia. This genus is not found in the western United
States. Western huckleberries belong to the genus Vaccinium. Their flowers and fruit resemble those of highbush and lowbush blueberries, which are also Vaccinium species. Western huckleberries, however, are in a different taxonomic section (Myrtillus) than highbush and lowbush blueberries
(Cyanococcus). The primary difference is that huckleberries produce single berries in the axils
of leaves on new shoots. Highbush and lowbush blueberries develop clusters of berries on 1-year-old wood, producing greater yields than do huckleberries.
The section Myrtillus contains eight species, commonly called huckleberries, blueberries, bilberries, and whortleberries. All produce edible fruit, but only two species, Vaccinium membranaceum and V. deliciosum, are harvested to a large degree. The other species are not widely distributed or have fruits that are small or poorly flavored.

Did you know?

• Western huckleberries contain more flavor chemicals than blueberries, explaining their more intense flavor.

• Although huckleberries thrive high in Northwest mountains, they often die of winter cold when transplanted to lower elevations. That’s because they need an insulating layer of snow to survive cold snaps.

• Western huckleberries grow best in soils rich in organic matter and low in pH.

• Western huckleberries easily grow from seed, but take 2 to 5 years to flower.