Cascade Bilberry
Vaccinium deliciosum
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Ericaceae
- Genus:
- Vaccinium
- Species:
- Vaccinium deliciosum
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Shrub , Subshrub
- Height:
- 4-6 ft
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- jun, aug
- Bloom Colors:
- Pink
Native Range
United States: California, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Canada: British Columbia
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Based on number of butterfly and moth species using this genus as host plant (Source: National Wildlife Federation)
- Bee Keystone:
- ★★★★☆ Based on number of native bee species using this genus for pollen and nectar (Source: National Wildlife Federation)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Bees: Black-tailed bumble bee (Bombus melanopygus), Black-tailed bumble bee (Bombus melanopygus), Sitka bumble bee (Bombus sitkensis), Sitka bumble bee (Bombus sitkensis), Yellow head bumble bee (Bombus flavifrons), Yellow head bumble bee (Bombus flavifrons)
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- moist, well-drained, acidic soil
- pH:
- 4.5 - 5.5 (strongly acidic to moderately acidic)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- thrives in mountainous regions with organic-rich soil
Germination Information
Pre-treatment: Sow seeds into trays filled with stabilized medium plugs (Q-plugs). Seal trays inside plastic bags and refrigerate at 1 to 3 °C for 60 days. Check trays weekly and keep moist. Treat with 1% hydrogen peroxide if mold is evident.
Establishment: Collect berries in the fall when ripe and store at ~4 °C until extraction, within two weeks to prevent mold growth. Grows in alpine meadows, subalpine coniferous woods, and near the coast at elevations from 600-2000 m. The range is from southern British Columbia to northern California, in the Klamath Range and the northern high Sierra Nevada Mountains.
Source: npn.rngr.net