Instead of foraging huckleberries, plant these native shrubs in your yard to enjoy their sweet berries.
Huckleberry bush is a native shrub in the heath family, closely related toblueberriesandcranberries.
There are two main types of huckleberry bushes.
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Huckleberries in theGaylussaciagroup, or genus, grow wild in the forest underbrush in eastern North America and Canada.
The fruit ranges from mildly sweet to tart.
Huckleberry bushes are hardy shrubs that grow between 3 and 10 feet tall.
Once established, they dont need much care.
The soil must be well-drained, acidic, and contain plenty of organic matter.
How and When to Plant Huckleberry Bush
Finding huckleberries at nurseries can be tricky.
Your best bet is to seek out businesses or organizations that specialize in native plants.
Also, visit the International Huckleberry Association website or search online.
Choose a variety recommended for your hardiness zone.
Plant nursery-grown huckleberry bushesin the spring after the last frost.
Dig a hole at least twice the size of the root ball and just as deep.
Place the plant in the center of the hole and gently spread out the roots.
Backfill with the original soil so that the top of the root ball is flush with the soil.
Tamp down the soil and water it well.
Space the plants 3 to 4 feet apart.
While they will grow in shady conditions, less sun means fewer berries.
Soil and Water
Huckleberries require well-drained, acidic soil with a pH between 4.3 and 5.2.
Before planting huckleberries, it is essential totest the soil pHand lower it if needed.
Consistent moisture is also key.
Water the plants regularly in the absence of abundant rain.
Temperature and Humidity
Huckleberry bushes are winter-hardy and can withstand temperatures below freezing.
They need cold winter temperatures to bloom and fruit successfully in the spring.
Fertilizer
If grown in rich, fertile soil, huckleberries dont need much fertilizer.
Pruning
Huckleberry bushes are slow-growing and dont need much pruning.
Always weed by hand around huckleberry bushes.
The plants have shallow roots that are easily damaged.
Potting and Repotting
Huckleberries are not suitable for growing in containers.
In a pot, no matter its size, the shallow roots dry out fast.
In the winter, the roots are not sufficiently insulated against the cold, despite the plants hardiness.
Deer like to browse the shrubs.
Consider erecting a fence so you plan to harvest the berries.
How to Propagate Huckleberry
Huckleberry bushes are propagated by division, seed, or cuttings.
Divisions are the quickest path to mature fruiting plants.
Division:Growing huckleberry bushesby divisionis easy.
The bushes spread by underground stems, so they dont have a central root system.
Water thoroughly andapply a layer of mulcharound the plant.
Cover them 1/4 inch deep and keep them moist until they germinate in about two weeks.
Give the seedlings at least five hours of direct sun a day.
Pot them when theyre 2 inches tall, and move the plants into the garden in early summer.
Cuttings:Take 4-inch cuttings in late winter to early spring.
Bury them in flats of damp sand and cover them with clear plastic.
When their roots are 2 inches long, move them into 1-gallon pots filled with potting soil.
Plant them in the garden when theyre 6 inches tall, spacing them 3 feet apart.
Huckleberries ripen in August and September.
This is the most widely harvested western huckleberry and Idahos state fruit.
The bushes are 1 to 4 feet tall.
It is also useful to prevent erosion on slopes.
The leaves turn orange and scarlet in the fall.
This neat, upright plant grows to 8 feet tall and produces blue-black berries in late summer.
Zone 3 7
Frequently Asked Questions
They are perennial shrubs that come back every year.
Pollinators, especially bees, are essential for abundant berry production.
