Black Huckleberry

5/5 (17)
leave a review
Current Stock:
0
Other Names:
Mountain Huckleberry, Tall Huckleberry, Square-twig blueberry, Thinleaf huckleberry
Latin Name:
Vaccinium membranaceum
Size *

Black Huckleberry (Vaccinium membranaceum) is an iconic Northwest berry shrub, prized for its intensely flavored, dark-purple fruit and its glowing fall foliage. In mountain meadows and forests across the West, mid- to late-summer ripening marks a season of abundance for people and wildlife alike [1][2][8].

Check out a closely-related species: the Oval Leaf Huckleberry!

Edible Uses

Among North America’s most celebrated wild fruits, Black Huckleberries are sweet-tart, aromatic, and deeply colored. Enjoy them fresh by the handful or preserved as exceptional jams, syrups, pies, cobblers, fruit leathers, and even country wines. The berries freeze well to extend the season. Beyond the deep, wild-berry flavor, they pack serious nutrition—concentrated anthocyanins and polyphenols plus a suite of vitamins—with research highlighting notable antioxidant activity [5][9][10].

Ornamental Qualities

Glossy foliage, bell-shaped spring blossoms, and brilliant red-purple fall color make this a handsome understory shrub for woodland gardens and edible landscapes [4].

For a multi-season native berry patch, pair Black Huckleberry with Serviceberry (early summer), Red Huckleberry and Salal (mid-summer), and Evergreen Huckleberry and Lingonberry (late summer–fall).

Environment and Culture

Native to higher-elevation forests and clearings throughout the Cascades, Rockies, and northern Sierra Nevada; thrives in acidic soils and snowpack-fed meadows [1][2][3][8]. Bears, birds, and many other animals rely on its fruit, and it plays a keystone role in mountain ecosystems [6][8] - patches can be hundreds of years old!

Indigenous communities continue to harvest and tend Black Huckleberry as a vital food and cultural resource. Seasonal berry camps, fire-tending, pruning, and selective harvest are living practices that maintain productivity and honor relationship with place [5][9]. (Learn more & how to help on our Charitable Giving page.)  

Harvest, Care, and Preparation

Grow in acidic, well-drained soil with partial sun to light shade. Choose cooler or higher elevation sites if possible and mulch with organic matter. Provide consistent moisture during dry spells. Harvest when fully colored and flavorful — often later than blueberries [4][7].

Note: As wild natives, huckleberries fruit more modestly and variably than cultivated blueberries. Many gardeners plant 3–6+ shrubs to match the crop of one mature highbush blueberry, depending on species and site. Multiple plants also increase yield due to increased pollination. 

(See Planting Guide on the next tab for more information.)

Attributes

  • Native Range: AK & BC south to northern CA; inland ID–MT–WY; east to ON/MI/MN/SD (high-elevation and northern forests)

  • USDA Zones: 4–8 (Zone 9 generally too warm except coolest coastal pockets)

  • Ease of Care: Difficult

  • Deer Resistance: Low

  • Light Requirements: Full sun to part shade; give afternoon shade in hot, low-elevation sites

  • Soil Type: Strongly acidic, well-drained, organic-rich (pH ~4.3–5.5 ideal)

  • Water Requirements: Moist to well-drained; moderate drought tolerance once established; best fruit with steady summer moisture

  • Pollination: Self-fertile; bee activity important; multiple plants improve set

  • Bearing Age: ~3–5 years (earlier from divisions; seed-grown can take longer)

  • Size at Maturity: 3–6 ft (upright, rhizomatous clumps)

  • Plant Spacing: 3–5 ft (closer for hedging; wider for airflow)

  • Bloom Time: May–July (later at higher elevations/snowpack)

  • Harvest Time: August–September (earlier at low elevations; later in high country)

 

References


[1] USDA PLANTS Database — species profile.
[2] Flora of North America — taxon treatment.
[3] Jepson eFlora — California distribution/habitat notes.
[4] Oregon State University Landscape Plants — horticultural notes.
[5] Moerman, Native American Ethnobotany — Indigenous food use.
[6] USFS Plant Guides — wildlife value & ecological roles.
[7] Native Plant Network & Extension publications — cultivation guidance.
[8] Pojar & MacKinnon, Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast — ecology & natural history.
[9] Turner, Food Plants of Coastal First Peoples — cultural tending & food use.
[10] Peer-reviewed nutrition/phytochemistry papers — antioxidant & vitamin content.

 

Pot Sizing Guide

pot-sizes-sideview-optimized.jpg

Planting Guide: Black Huckleberry (Vaccinium membranaceum)

? Tip: Think cool, acidic forest edge. Keep roots cool with conifer-duff mulch, use low-pH organic soil, and give afternoon shade in hot, low-elevation sites; steady summer moisture = better fruit.

Choosing a Site

Light: Full sun to part shade; in hotter/lower sites, aim for morning sun and afternoon shade.

Soil: Strongly acidic (roughly pH 4.3–5.5), well-drained, organic-rich. Blend in fine bark, rotted wood, peat/coir; avoid lime/alkaline amendments.

Space: Plant 3–5 ft apart; plants spread slowly by rhizomes to form clumps/patches.

Planting Steps

Plant in spring or fall (spring in cold-winter regions). Choose a wide, shallow hole and pre-moisten the planting mix.

Mix native soil with composted bark/leaf mold and a small amount of peat or coir for acidity and moisture retention.

Set the plant at the same depth as the container; loosen circling roots gently and avoid burying stems.

Water deeply to settle; mulch 2–3 in. with pine needles/conifer duff (keep mulch a few inches off stems).

In hot areas, provide temporary shade cloth or companion shade (ferns/heathers) for the first summers.

Watering & Care

Establishment: Keep evenly moist—not waterlogged—during the first 1–3 years.

After establishment: Moderately drought tolerant, but best crops come with consistent summer moisture.

Pruning: Minimal. Tip-back lightly after fruiting; remove dead/damaged wood in late winter. Avoid hard cuts.

Feeding: Light, acid-forming fertilizer only if growth is weak; annual top-dress with coniferous organic matter.

Pollination: Self-fertile; native bees improve set. Plant multiples to boost yield.

Heat & Airflow: Keep roots cool with mulch; shelter from hot, dry winds; provide airflow to limit leaf diseases.

Protection

Wildlife: Birds love the fruit—use lightweight netting if you need more for the kitchen.

Cold & Deer: Hardy shrub; protect young plants from deer where browse pressure is high.

Soil-borne issues: Avoid poorly drained sites to prevent root problems; water deeply but infrequently once established.

Companions: Pairs well with Evergreen Huckleberry, Red Huckleberry, Salal, and native ferns/heathers for a cool, multi-season understory.

Harvest Basics

Timeline: First light crops typically 3–5 years after planting (seed-grown plants can be slower).

Season: Mid/late summer into early fall—often August–September, later at higher elevations.

Use: Superb fresh or in pancakes, cobblers, jams, syrups, fruit leather; freeze whole to extend the season.