Taxonomy

Division:

Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants

Family:

Ericaceae

Genus:

Vaccinium

Species:

Vaccinium boreale

USDA Symbol:

VABO

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:

Perennial

Growth Habit:

Shrub , Subshrub

Height:

20 cm

Light Requirements:

Full Sun

Drought Tolerance:

Low

Bloom Months:

may,jun,jul

Bloom Colors:

white, pink

Ground Cover:

Yes

Keystone Species Ranking

Caterpillar Keystone:

★★★★★ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)

Pollen Specialist Bee Keystone:

★★☆☆☆ Native pollen specialist bee species supported by this genus (NWF)

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:

birds, small mammals

Fall Color:

red

Fire Ecology:

Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire

Fire Notes:

Resprouts from rhizomes following fire; benefits from periodic burns that reduce competition.

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:

sandy, acidic, nutrient-poor soil

pH:

4.5 - 5.5 (strongly acidic to moderately acidic)

Drainage:

excellent drainage required

Moisture:

dry to moderate

Notes:

native to rocky, alpine environments

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:

Cold/moist stratification required — 90–120 days

Germination Time:

30–90 days

Notes:

Seeds require light for germination. Best sown on surface of acidic peat-based medium.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI