woodland shrub
Evergreen Huckleberry
Vaccinium ovatum
1 of 2Native to California, Oregon, and Washington and southern Canada
West of the Cascades from southwestern British Columbia to northern California and sporadic southward
- Light Full sun to shade Sun tolerance
- Moisture Dry to moist Moisture preference
- Zones 5–10 Cold to heat range
- Bloom Mar–May Flowering time
- Height up to 8 ft to 2.4 m
- Life cycle Perennial Annual to perennial
In the garden
A woodland shrub for sun through shade and dry to moist soil. At up to 8 ft, it needs room in shade gardens and woodland edges. Hardy in USDA zones 5–10.
Growing conditions
Light
Full sun Partial shade Full shade
Moisture
Dry Moist Wet
Hardiness zones
Find your zone:
Pollinators & wildlife
- Bees Yellow-faced Bumble Bee
also Western Honey Bee, Black-tailed Bumble Bee, Fuzzy-Horned Bumble Bee +3 more
Sitka Bumble Bee, Fog-belt Bumble Bee, Bombus vancouverensis vancouverensis - Butterflies Echo Azure also Incisalia eryphon
- Hummingbirds Anna's Hummingbird
- Also visited by
- Birds: American Crow
Butterflies that use this plant
Documented host and nectar records. Each links to a planting guide for that butterfly.
- Eastern pine elfinnectar
Full plant details
Where it grows
- Habitat
- WoodlandThe wild plant community it grows in.
- Native range
- California, Oregon, and Washington and southern CanadaUnited States (3): CA, OR, WA. Canada (1): BC. Where it grows wild on its own, by state and province.
- Native distribution
- West of the Cascades from southwestern British Columbia to northern California and sporadic southwardThe same native range, usually more exact than the state list, and often noting where it has spread beyond it.
Growing conditions
- Light
- Full sun to shadeHow much sun it takes, from full sun to full shade.
- Moisture
- Dry to moistThe soil dampness it prefers, from dry to wet.
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 5–10 · Canadian 4–9The cold-to-heat climate range it survives.
- Soil
- Poor, acid, well-drained soilThe soils it grows in naturally.
- Soil texture
- Light to medium (sandy to loamy)The soil grade it prefers, from sand to clay.
- Soil pH
- 5.5–7.5The acidity to alkalinity it tolerates (7 is neutral).
- Soil quality
- MediumHow rich a soil it needs. Many natives prefer lean soil and flop in rich beds.
- Water use
- LowHow thirsty it is, a rough guide to how often to water.
- Salinity tolerance
- NoneHow well it copes with salty soil, near roads or the coast.
- Lime (CaCO₃) tolerance
- LowHow well it copes with chalky, lime-rich soil.
Growth & form
- Height
- up to 8 ft (to 2.4 m)Typical mature height.
- Life cycle
- PerennialWhether it lives a single season (annual), two (biennial), or returns for years (perennial).
- Growth rate
- SlowA relative ranking versus other plants of the same type (USDA), not an absolute rate.
- Shape
- ErectIts overall silhouette.
- Root depth
- 16+ in (41+ cm)How far the roots reach, a guide to drought resilience and transplanting.
Flowers, foliage & fruit
- Type
- ShrubWhat kind of plant it is.
- Bloom
- Mar–MayWhen it flowers.
- Flower color
- PinkThe bloom color, or colors.
- Toxicity
- None knownWhether any part is poisonous to people or pets.
Propagation & seed
- Cold stratification
- Not requiredWhether seed needs a cold, moist spell before it will germinate.
- Propagation
- Bare root, container, cuttings, seedHow to start new plants.
- Seed
- ~1 million seeds per poundNotes on the seed and how to sow it.
- Seed spread rate
- SlowHow readily it self-sows. Slow or none means well-behaved, not a spreader.
- Seedling vigor
- LowHow strongly young seedlings establish.
- Vegetative spread
- ModerateWhether it creeps outward or stays put in a clump.