Taxonomy

Division:

Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants

Family:

Ericaceae

Genus:

Vaccinium

Species:

Vaccinium hirsutum

USDA Symbol:

VAHI

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:

Perennial

Growth Habit:

Shrub

Height:

60 cm

Light Requirements:

Part Shade

Drought Tolerance:

Low

Bloom Months:

may,jun

Bloom Colors:

white, pink

Landscaping Shrub:

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 rootstock following fire. Found in fire-maintained Appalachian habitats.

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:

rich, well-drained loamy soil

pH:

4.5 - 6.0 (acidic to slightly acidic)

Drainage:

excellent drainage required

Moisture:

consistently moist

Notes:

prefers organic matter-rich environments

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:

Cold/moist stratification required — 60–90 days

Germination Time:

30–90 days

Notes:

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

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI