Ericaceae

Vaccinium ovatum

Evergreen Huckleberry

Tall evergreen shrub with thick branches and round twigs. Hairy stems do not root when touching soil. Leaves leathery, lance-shaped, 1–2 in. long, finely toothed, dark green on top, pale green underneath with few dark glandular hairs. Flowers 2–12 in dense clusters, pale pink, urn-shaped, with 5 lobes. Berries small, shiny, dark bluish black. Found from edges of beaches to conifer forests at low elevations. Berries are tasty in autumn and early winter, becoming even better after light frost.

• Rarity: Locally Common
• Flowering Time: Mid Spring
• Life Cycle: Perennial
• Height: 1--9 feet
• Habitat: Coastal, West-Side Forest
• Found In: Olympic Np, Mt. Rainier Np
• Native: Yes