Buckberry, Deerberry
Vaccinium stamineum

Family: Ericaceae

What it is like

A shrub. It forms a crown and develops suckers. It grows 1.2 m tall. It loses its leaves during the year. The leaves are pale green and narrowly oval. They are 2-8 cm long by 1-3 cm wide. There are usually 2-7 flowers in a group. They are white to green. The fruit are green to yellow berries. They can be purple or black. They are 7-18 mm across.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It suits USDA hardiness zone 6.

Countries/locations it is found in

Canada, Mexico, North America, USA

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten raw or cooked. The fruit although edible are not attractive. They are often bitter.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Arandano, Georgia blueberry, Southern Gooseberry

Synonyms

Vaccinium stamineum var. stamineum; Polycodium ashei Harbison; Polycodium candicans (C. Mohr) Small; Polycodium depressum Small; Polycodium floridanum (Nuttall) Greene; Polycodium leptosepalum Small; Polycodium macilentum Small; Polycodium melanocarpum (C. Mohr) Small; Polycodium neglectum Small; Polycodium stamineum (Linnaeus) Greene; Vaccinium caesium Greene; Vaccinium melanocarpum (C. Mohr) C. Mohr ex Kearney; Vaccinium neglectum (Small) Fernald; Vaccinium stamineum var. affine (Ashe) Sleumer; Vaccinium stamineum var. austromontanum (Ashe) Sleumer; Vaccinium stamineum var. interius (Ashe) E. J. Palmer & Steyermark; Vaccinium stamineum var. melanocarpum C. Mohr; Vaccinium stamineum var. neglectum (Small) Deam; Vaccinium stamineum var. virginianum (Ashe) Sleumer