# Red Huckleberry (*Vaccinium parvifolium*) The Red Huckleberry is a small shrub that grows bright red berries. These tasty berries are loved by birds and people alike, making it a fun plant to discover in the wild! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 5 - **Habitat:** Forests - **Also known as:** Huckleberry ![Red Huckleberry](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Vaccinium_parvifolium.jpg&width=800) Photo: Meggar at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Vaccinium_parvifolium.jpg) ## Appearance The Red Huckleberry is a slender shrub with bright green, oval leaves that often appear somewhat flattened. Its distinctive feature is its small, translucent, ruby-red berries hanging like tiny jewels from the branches, contrasting with the vibrant foliage. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Ericales - **Family:** Ericaceae - **Genus:** Vaccinium ## Interesting facts - Indigenous peoples traditionally used these berries for food and medicine for centuries! - Its leaves turn fiery red and orange in the fall before dropping off! - The tiny red berries are super juicy, bursting with a tart, sweet flavor! - This plant can grow on old mossy logs and even high up in trees! ## Special abilities - **Sprout Back Power:** Red Huckleberry can regrow quickly after fires or damage, thanks to its tough underground stems. - **Tree Hugger:** Red Huckleberry can sometimes grow on mossy logs or tree trunks, absorbing nutrients from decaying matter. - **Forest Floor Finder:** Red Huckleberry has adapted to thrive in the dim light of dense forests, growing where many others can't. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 50-400 cm - **Spread:** 50-200 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.4-0.6 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late Spring to Early Summer - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** American Black Bear (*Ursus americanus*) — eats its sweet, tart berries. - **Eats:** [American Robin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-robin) (*Turdus migratorius*) — feasts on the small red fruit. - **Pollinates:** Yellow-faced Bumblebee (*Bombus vosnesenskii*) — collects nectar and pollen from flowers. - **Eats:** [Mule Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mule-deer) (*Odocoileus hemionus*) — browses on its leaves and twigs. ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight. - [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground. - [Fruit Bearing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fruit-bearing): Fruit-bearing plants produce fruits, which are the mature ovaries of flowering plants containing seeds. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always check with an adult before eating any berries you find in nature. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Red Huckleberry? Compare how the fruit is clustered, the leaves and their arrangement, the stems and any thorns. Red, blue and black fruits grow on lots of unrelated plants, and the same color can show up on both edible and poisonous species. Berry Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Red Huckleberry? 50-400 cm ### How wide does Red Huckleberry spread? 50-200 cm ### How big are the flowers on Red Huckleberry? 0.4-0.6 cm ### When does Red Huckleberry bloom? Late Spring to Early Summer ### Is Red Huckleberry edible? Yes ### Is Red Huckleberry toxic? None ### What is Red Huckleberry's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Saxman Totem Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/saxman-totem-park) — Alaska, US · Historic District - [Sitka National Historical Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/sitka-national-historical-park) — US · National Park - [Illahee State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/illahee-state-park) — Washington, US · State Park - [Ross Lake National Recreation Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ross-lake-national-recreation-area) — Washington, US · National Park - [Cushman Dam](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cushman-dam) — Washington, US · Historic Site - [Selleck](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/selleck) — Washington, US · Historic District [View all places to see Red Huckleberry](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/red-huckleberry) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Red Huckleberry: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-huckleberry)