Vaccinium stamineum

Common Names

Deerberry, Highbush Huckleberry, Squaw Huckleberry, Southern Gooseberry

Summary

Deerberry (Vaccinium stamineum) is a widely distributed eastern North American Ericaceae shrub that typically grows as a loosely branched, deciduous plant reaching about 3–6 feet tall with a similar spread, often forming colonies by underground runners, it bears white bell-shaped flowers in spring and blue to black edible berries that ripen in late summer to fall, fall foliage can turn red to purple, and the plant provides nectar for pollinators and fruit for wildlife, it grows best in full sun to partial shade in acidic, well-drained soils with a pH around 4.0–6.0 and is drought-tolerant once established, it is hardy in USDA zones 5–9 and can be propagated by seed, it is well suited for native plant gardens, open woodlands, or naturalized landscapes and can function as a hedge or wildlife-friendly landscaping component, often spreading by underground runners to form clumps and requiring low maintenance.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

3-6 feet

Spread

6-12 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 5-9

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally Full Sun, tolerates Partial Sun and Partial Shade.

Soil Type

Acidic, well-drained soil (pH ~4.0–6.0), often a peat moss–sand–loam mix

Soil Drainage

Well-drained, acidic soil (pH 4.0–6.0)

Soil pH

4.5-6.0

Bloom Color

White

Bloom Time

Spring (April to June)

Foliage Color

Green, blue-green, glaucous blue-green

Fall Foliage Color

Red to maroon-purple

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Moderate growth rate, 1–2 feet per year

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, and Fall.

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Cuttings, Layering, Division

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees, butterflies, other pollinators, birds