Box huckleberry
Gaylussacia brachycera
Family: Ericaceae
What it is like
A small, spreading evergreen shrub. The branches often root along the ground. They form mounds and are 45 cm high but can spread very widely through the suckers. The leaves are leathery, oval and 25 mm long. They have shallow teeth. The flowers are urn shaped and are white with red tints. They are 6 mm long and hang in long clusters. The fruit are black and 12 mm wide.
There are about 42 Gaylussacia species in tropical America.
Where it is found
It is a temperate plant. It suits hardiness zones 4-9.
Countries/locations it is found in
North America (country/location of origin), USA
How it is used for food
Edible parts
Fruit
How it is grown
It is slow growing. It can live for very long periods.