Virginia Tech Dendrology

evergreen huckleberry Ericaceae Vaccinium ovatum Pursh symbol: VAOV2
Leaf: Alternate, simple, persistent, ovate, small (1/2 to 1 1/2 inch long), thick and leathery, margins finely serrate, dark green and waxy above and paler below, distinctly 2-ranked.
Flower: Perfect, small (1/4 inch long), pink, bell-shaped, borne in small clusters, appearing in late spring to early summer.
Fruit: Small (1/4 inch diameter), bluish black berry, edible.
Twig: Slender, reddish brown; at first pubescent, but becoming smooth; young twigs often ridged; buds have bright red imbricate scales.
Bark: Thin, smooth, and reddish brown.
Form: An upright, evergreen, broad-leaved shrub up to 10 feet tall.
Looks like: Cascade bilberry - red huckleberry

Additional Range Information: Vaccinium ovatum is native to North America. Range may be expanded by planting. Download the full-size PDF map.
External Links: USDAFS FEIS Silvics - 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