Black Huckleberry

Light Needs

Full Shade to Partial Shade

(0 - 4 Hours Of Direct Sunlight)

Mature Height

1-3 Feet

Mature Spread

1-3 Feet

Growing Zones

3 to 7

The Black Huckleberry is an American native that is simply adored by local wildlife. Botanically named, Gaylussacia baccata, this deciduous shrub produces small urn-shaped flowers in spring that mature into red-purple berries. Its small green leaves turn a delightful shade of orange-red in the autumn before falling as the temperatures drop. This shrub remains compact at 1 to 3 feet tall. 

The Black Huckleberry is a hardy shrub that is suitable for growing in zones 3 to 7. Requiring little ongoing care, it is most certainly low maintenance.  Black Huckleberry is perfect for growing in a wildlife area or for adding to a border. It can also be used to form a low and informal hedge. 

Black Huckleberry Care

The best fruits are produced when the Black Huckleberry is grown in partial or dappled shade. Full sun is tolerated but fruiting may be limited. A sandy or rocky soil that is free draining and slightly acidic is considered its ideal soil. Frequent irrigation is needed on planting and until it becomes established. From then on, watering is recommended when the fruits appear to encourage them to swell. Supplementary fertilizer is not usually required. 

As a slow-growing shrub, the Black Huckleberry does not need much pruning. However, dead or diseased material can be pruned away when the plant is dormant in winter. 

Black Huckleberry Spacing

In the right conditions, the Black Huckleberry can grow to a maximum size of 1 to 3 feet tall and wide. If planting multiple shrubs, a spacing of 3 to 4 feet between plants will give them space to mature.