Grouse Whortleberry
Vaccinium scoparium
- Native to:
- Canada, United States
Steve Redman ( MORA )
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Ericaceae
- Genus:
- Vaccinium
- Species:
- Vaccinium scoparium
- USDA Symbol:
- VASC
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Shrub , Subshrub
- Height:
- 30 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- Low
- Bloom Months:
- jun,jul
- Bloom Colors:
- pink, white
- Ground Cover:
- Yes
- 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)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Titania's fritillary (Clossiana titania)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Bees: Black-tailed bumble bee (Bombus melanopygus), Fuzzy-horned bumble bee (Bombus mixtus)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, bears, small mammals
- Fall Color:
- red
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts vigorously from rhizomes following fire. Common in post-fire subalpine communities.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- sandy, acidic, nutrient-poor soil
- pH:
- 4.5 - 6.0 (acidic to slightly acidic)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- Commonly found in coniferous forest understories
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
Pre-treatment: Softwood Cuttings were re-cut and terminal buds were removed. Cuttings were treated with 2,000 ppm liquid IBA, and placed in 1:1 (v:v) peat: perlite rooting medium in the mist bed with bottom heat. Cuttings were 7 cm in length and 7 mm in diameter.
Establishment: Cuttings with a section of 2 year old wood at the base had the greatest density of roots. A higher concentration of IBA talc should be tried using cuttings with 2 yr old wood. Some successful cuttings were actually carefully dug divisions with attached rhizomes from well-established plants in late summer.
Source: npn.rngr.net