Taxonomy

Division:

Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants

Family:

Ericaceae

Genus:

Vaccinium

Species:

Vaccinium calycinum

USDA Symbol:

VACA8

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:

Perennial

Growth Habit:

Shrub

Height:

60 cm

Light Requirements:

Full Sun

Drought Tolerance:

Low

Bloom Months:

mar,apr,may,jun

Bloom Colors:

white, pink

Landscaping Shrub:

Yes

Wildlife Benefits

Caterpillars:

★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)

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

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:

rich, well-drained volcanic soil

pH:

4.5 - 5.5 (acidic)

Drainage:

excellent drainage required

Moisture:

consistently moist

Notes:

native to Hawaiian forests, prefers organic matter

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:

Cold/moist stratification required — 60–90 days

Germination Time:

30–90 days

Notes:

Seeds require light for germination. Germination can be erratic and slow.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI