Gaylussacia baccata

Common Names

Black Huckleberry, Crackleberry

Summary

Black huckleberry is a native eastern North American deciduous shrub forming dense colonies and typically 1 to 3 ft tall with a 1 to 3 ft spread, it has small oval leaves dark green above and paler yellowish beneath with resin dots on both surfaces, and produces bell shaped pink to red flowers in spring, followed by purple black edible berries ripening in midsummer to early fall, it prefers sun to partial shade and acidic sandy or rocky soils with average to dry moisture, drought tolerant once established and hardy in zones 3 to 7, the plant forms wildlife friendly thickets suitable for naturalistic landscapes, wildlife gardens, borders, hedges, and slope stabilization, while attracting pollinators and wildlife, propagation is by seeds or cuttings, seeds germinate slowly without warm stratification, but warm stratification for about 30 days followed by cold exposure improves germination.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

1-3 feet

Spread

1-3 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 3-7

Sunlight Requirements

Full Sun to Partial Shade; tolerates Full Shade.

Soil Type

Acidic, well-drained soil, typically sandy or rocky, with pH about 4.5–5.5

Soil Drainage

Well-drained soil, preferably sandy or rocky.

Soil pH

4.5-5.2

Bloom Color

Red to pink

Bloom Time

Spring to Summer

Foliage Color

Green; turns orange to crimson in fall.

Fall Foliage Color

Orange to red

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Slow growth

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, and Fall

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Cuttings, Layering, Division

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees, butterflies, other pollinators, and birds