Virginia Tech Dendrology

deerberry Ericaceae Vaccinium stamineum L. symbol: VAST
Leaf: Alternate, simple, elliptical, entire, 1 to 3 inches long, green above and white, pubescent beneath.
Flower: Small (1/4 inch), white, bell-shaped with 5 lobes, yellowish stamens extend past petals in axillary clusters, appearing in spring.
Fruit: Small, purplish-black (may stay greenish) berries with a white bloom, edible but not always sweet, ripens in mid to late summer.
Twig: Slender, zigzag, green and red turning light brown; buds small and pointed.
Bark: Gray-brown to reddish brown, finely shreddy.
Form: Upright small to medium sized shrub up to 10 feet tall with an open spreading crown with twisted branches.
Looks like: highbush blueberry - lowbush blueberry - sparkleberry - huckleberry

Additional Range Information: Vaccinium stamineum is native to North America. Range may be expanded by planting. Download the full-size PDF map.
More Information: Fall Color
External Links: USDA Plants Database
All material 2021 Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation; Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen, Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson; Silvics reprinted from Ag Handbook 654; range map source information