Black Huckleberry

Gaylussacia baccata

Taxonomy

Division:: Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:: Ericaceae
Genus:: Gaylussacia
Species:: Gaylussacia baccata

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:: Perennial
Growth Habit:: Shrub
Height:: 4-6 ft
Light Requirements:: Full Sun, Part Shade, Shade
Drought Tolerance:: High
Bloom Months:: may, jun, jul
Bloom Colors:: White, Pink
Evergreen Shrub:: Yes
Landscaping Shrub:: Yes

Native Range

United States: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Canada: New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec

Keystone Species Ranking

Caterpillar Keystone:: ★★★☆☆ Based on number of butterfly and moth species using this genus as host plant (Source: National Wildlife Federation)

Host Plant for Caterpillars

Acleris curvalana, Ancylis apicana, Chain-lined geometer moth (Cingilia catenaria), Coleophora gaylussaciella, Coptodisca magnella, Eupithecia graefii, Huckleberry sphinx (Paonias astylus), Nites betulella, Olethreutes baccatana, Phyllonorycter diversella, Wavy-lined Emerald (Synchlora aerata), Brown Elfin (Incisalia augustinus), Henry's Elfin (Incisalia henrici)

Reported Fauna Sightings

Bees: Black-tailed bumble bee (Bombus melanopygus), Black-tailed bumble bee (Bombus melanopygus), Bombus impatiens (Bombus impatiens), Bombus impatiens (Bombus impatiens), Bombus perplexus (Bombus perplexus), Bombus perplexus (Bombus perplexus), Bombus terricola (Bombus terricola), Bombus terricola (Bombus terricola), bumblebee (Bombus Latreille), bumblebee (Bombus Latreille), Indiscriminate cuckoo bumble bee (Bombus insularis), Indiscriminate cuckoo bumble bee (Bombus insularis)

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:: sandy, acidic, nutrient-poor soil
pH:: 4.0 - 5.5 (strongly acidic to acidic)
Drainage:: excellent drainage required
Moisture:: dry to moderate
Notes:: prefers open, sunny locations in native habitats

Germination Information

Pre-treatment: After sowing, seed trays are given a 1 month period of warm moist stratification with alternating day-night temperatures (optimum is 86/68°F though our greenhouse averaged about 75/65°F), followed by two months cool moist stratification at approximately 45-50°F.

Establishment: Seedlings are very slow growing. During establishment, it is important to keep the soil surface evenly moist. Do not allow media to remain saturated, dry out or develop a surface crust. Fungus gnats can become a problem and larval feeding may damage seedling roots, therefore treatment may be necessary.

Source: npn.rngr.net