Thinleaf Huckleberry

Vaccinium membranaceum

Native to:
Canada, United States

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Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Ericaceae
Genus:
Vaccinium
Species:
Vaccinium membranaceum
USDA Symbol:
VAME

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Perennial
Growth Habit:
Shrub
Height:
180 cm
Light Requirements:
Full Sun,Part Shade,Shade
Drought Tolerance:
Low
Bloom Months:
may,jun,jul
Bloom Colors:
white, pink
Food Forest:
Contains edible parts
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)

Reported Fauna Sightings

Bees: Black-tailed bumble bee (Bombus melanopygus), Fuzzy-horned bumble bee (Bombus mixtus), Two-form bumble bee (Bombus bifarius)

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:
birds, bears, small mammals
Fall Color:
red, orange, yellow
Fire Ecology:
Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
Fire Notes:
Resprouts vigorously from rhizomes following fire. Often increases in abundance in post-fire environments.

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

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:
Cold/moist stratification required — 90–120 days
Germination Time:
30–90 days
Notes:
Seeds require light for germination. Germination can be erratic and may take several months.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI

Pre-treatment: For cuttings, re-cut and remove terminal buds. Treat with 2,000 ppm liquid IBA and place in 1:1 peat: perlite rooting medium in mistbed with bottom heat. For seeds, sow into trays filled with stabilized medium plugs (Q-plugs), seal trays inside plastic bags and refrigerate at 33.8 to 37.4 °F for 60 days. Keep moist and treat with 1% hydrogen peroxide if mold is evident.

Establishment: Cuttings may benefit from inoculation with ericoid mycorrhizal fungi during rooting. Softwood cuttings have higher number and quality of roots compared to semi-hardwood cuttings. Higher concentrations of IBA should be tried using cuttings with 2 yr old wood. Seed germination is extremely slow and somewhat uneven.

Source: npn.rngr.net

ORGHPS Germination Guide: Sow @ 20C. Germinates within 3 months.

Source: Ontario Rock Garden & Hardy Plant Society