Mountain Huckleberry, Thinleaf huckleberry
Vaccinium membranaceum

Family: Ericaceae

What it is like

Vaccinium membranaceum is a deciduous Shrub growing to 1 m (3ft 3in). See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 6. It is in flower from June to July. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects. Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid soils and can grow in very acid soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil and can tolerate drought.

Height (m): 1

Where it is found

Thickets and woodland edges. Moist woods.

Western N. America - Michigan and Alaska to California.

Conservation Status:

Countries/locations it is found in

Alaska, Canada, North America*, USA,

How it is used

Food

Rating: 3

Fruit - raw or cooked. A sweet but rather acid flavour. Sour but delicious according to other reports. A reasonable source of vitamin C. This fruit is amongst the largest and best flavoured of all the wild blueberries. The native North Americans would often dry the fruit for use in the winter.

Medicine

Rating: 1

Antiseptic, astringent, carminative, hypoglycaemic. An infusion of the roots and stems has been used in the treatment of heart troubles, arthritis and rheumatism.

Antiarthritic: Treats arthritis.

Antiseptic: Preventing sepsis, decay or putrefaction, it destroys or arrests the growth of micro-organisms.

Astringent: Produces contraction in living tissue, reducing the flow of secretions and discharges of blood, mucus, diarrhoea etc.

Cardiac: Used in the treatment of heart problems.

Carminative: Reduces flatulence and expels gas from the intestines.

Hypoglycaemic: Reduces the levels of sugar in the blood.

Vitamin C: Plants good for their vitamin C content

Other

Rating: 0

How it is grown

Requires a moist but freely-draining lime free soil, preferring one that is rich in peat or a light loamy soil with added leaf-mould. Prefers a very acid soil with a pH in the range of 4.5 to 6, plants soon become chlorotic when lime is present. Succeeds in full sun or light shade though it fruits better in a sunny position. Requires shelter from strong winds. Established plants are extremely drought resistant. Plants are very hardy, tolerating temperatures down to about -40°c in N. America. Dislikes root disturbance, plants are best grown in pots until being planted out in their permanent positions. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus.

Propagating it: Seed - sow late winter in a greenhouse in a lime-free potting mix and only just cover the seed. Stored seed might require a period of up to 3 months cold stratification. Another report says that it is best to sow the seed in a greenhouse as soon as it is ripe. Once they are about 5cm tall, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a lightly shaded position in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 5 - 8cm with a heel, August in a frame. Slow and difficult. Layering in late summer or early autumn. Another report says that spring is the best time to layer. Takes 18 months. Division of suckers in spring or early autumn.

Best place to grow: Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade;

Habit: Shrub

Hardiness: 5-9

Growth:

Soil: Light (sandy), medium

Shade: Semi-shade, no shade

Moisture: Moist

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

Mountain bilberry, Mountain huckleberry, Tall huckleberry, Twin-leafed huckleberry, Big whortleberry, Velvet-leaf huckleberry, Globe huckleberry, Thin leafed blueberry,

Synonyms

V. myrtilloides. non Michx.