Deerberry
ExplorePlants
Deerberry
vaccinium stamineum
Deerberry is a delightful plant that produces sweet, edible berries! Kids will love spotting its colorful fruits in the woods during summer.
Habitat: Deerberry commonly grows in forests, along roadsides, and in open areas.
Appearance
The Deerberry has an upright, spreading shape with oval, bright green leaves that turn reddish-purple in fall. Its unique bell-shaped, white to pinkish flowers hang in clusters, and its pale green, yellowish, or sometimes purplish berries are often covered in a waxy bloom.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderEricalesFamilyEricaceaeGenusVaccinium
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
Be the first to snap!
Interesting facts
Deerberry flowers have long, yellow stamens that stick out like tiny antennae.
It's a wild cousin to your favorite cultivated blueberries and tart cranberries!
Its berries can stay pale green or yellowish, unlike typical blue blueberries!
Native Americans traditionally used Deerberry for both food and various medicines.
Special abilities
Ability
Acid Power
Deerberry can thrive in very acidic, poor soils, using special adaptations to absorb nutrients where other plants struggle.
Ability
Thirsty Survivor
Deerberry has a strong root system that helps it withstand dry periods, making it quite drought-tolerant once established.
Ability
Buzz Pollinator
Deerberry has a unique flower shape with protruding stamens that encourages 'buzz pollination' by certain bees for better seed production.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 50-250 cm
- Spread
- 50-200 cm
- Flower Size
- 0.5-1 cm
- Bloom Season
- Spring
- Edible
- Yes
- Toxicity
- None
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Pollination Method
- Insect
Ecological connections
eaten by
White-tailed Deer
Odocoileus virginianus
Eats its leaves and berries.
eaten by
Wild Turkey
Meleagris gallopavo
Forages on the nutritious berries.
eaten by
Eastern Bluebird
Sialia sialis
Enjoys eating the ripe berries.
pollinates
European Honey Bee
Apis mellifera
Collects nectar and pollen from flowers.
pollinates
Common Eastern Bumblebee
Bombus impatiens
Uses buzz pollination on its flowers.
Traits
Social
Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring.
Colorful
Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
Herbivorous
This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.
Forest
Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.
Pollinator
Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants.
Also known as
Squaw Berry
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Always ask an adult before picking and eating wild berries.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is Deerberry?
50-250 cm
How wide does Deerberry spread?
50-200 cm
How big are the flowers on Deerberry?
0.5-1 cm
When does Deerberry bloom?
Spring
Is Deerberry edible?
Yes
Is Deerberry toxic?
None
What is Deerberry's lifecycle?
Perennial
How is Deerberry pollinated?
Insect
Snap Map
Zoom in to split clusters and explore where this object has been snapped.
Loading map…
Recent Snaps
Recent snaps will appear here as new observations are added.
