LWS Black Gold Huckleberry Vaccinium Membranaceum 30 Seeds USPS Shipping

Phenology:  Bloom time:  Late spring to June. Fruit ripens: Mid-summer to late August.
This species is prized for its delicious berries.  Its leaves turn a spectacular red to 
purple in the fall. Mountain Huckleberry does best when it has little competition from 
other plants and is ideal for a rock garden or on a slope with plenty of organic matter.  
Plant it together with its natural companion, Beargrass, to reproduce the look of a 
subalpine hillside. Soil moisture will affect the quality and quantity of berry 
production, although it still will fruit even after 4-6 months with no rain.

Propagation:  In nature, Black Huckleberry propagates mostly vegetatively by slow 
expansion via adventitious buds on its rhizomes.  Although seed reproduction is 
reportedly rare in nature, seeds can be propagated with about a 42% germination rate.  
It is best to plant seeds as soon as they are ripe in a cold frame.  Stored seed may 
require a 3 month stratification period.  Cuttings are difficult but possible from 
half-ripe wood taken in August, with a heel.  More success is likely with division of 
the rhizomes.

Use by People: The flavorful, juicy berries were collected by natives, eaten fresh or 
cooked, mashed and dried into cakes.  Today, many families make special trips to the 
mountains to pick huckleberries.  They go back to the same patch every year, unofficially 
claiming it as their own– hesitant to share the location with others. This is the species of 
huckleberry most commonly used in huckleberry Jams, syrups and other products marketed to tourists.

Use by Wildlife: Huckleberry flowers are pollinated by bees. Black Huckleberry is the dominant 
species of huckleberry consumed by Grizzly Bears and Black Bears; they eat the berries, 
leaves, stems and roots.  Elk, moose and deer will also browse on the foliage.  
Small mammals, grouse and other birds also eat the berries as well as use the shrub as cover.

Wild vacciniums are notoriously challenging to grow, but many of us can't help but try anyway! 
They are slow-growing and need careful attention during establishment.  They thrive in acidic, 
well drained soils, and taste and produce best in 60-70% sunshine.  The roots of the huckleberry 
are sensitive to compaction.  Plant them away from pathways, and keep soil mulched.  

Summer watering will produce bigger berries.  Harvest the berries in late summer-fall when they 
have fully ripened. They will be fully purple-black and firm, but with a little give. Due to 
lower yields than cultivated berries, expect to need 3 to 4 times the bushes for the same harvest.  

If you have a large bird population, plants can be covered with netting to keep the birds from 
eating all the berries. The berries are superior to cultivated blueberries in taste, although 
they are slightly smaller and less productive.  Use them in any way you might use a blueberry - 
fresh, frozen, dried, in jams, cobblers, crisps, leathers, and more.