Vaccinium ovalifolium
| Vaccinium ovalifolium | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |  |
| Hardiness: | 3 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-6.5 |
| Height: | 10' |
| Blooms: | Early Summer |
| Open Woods Forest | |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Vaccinium ovalifolium (common name: black huckleberry)
Propagation: Seed - sow late winter in a greenhouse in a lime-free potting mix and only just cover the seed[1]. Stored seed might require a period of up to 3 months cold stratification[2]. Another report says that it is best to sow the seed in a greenhouse as soon as it is ripe[3]. Once they are about 5cm tall, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a lightly shaded position in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 5 - 8cm with a heel, August in a frame[1]. Slow and difficult.
Layering in late summer or early autumn[1]. Another report says that spring is the best time to layer[3]. Takes 18 months[1].
Division of suckers in spring or early autumn[2].
Cultivation: Requires a moist but freely-draining lime free soil, preferring one that is rich in peat or a light loamy soil with added leaf-mould[4][3]. Prefers a very acid soil with a pH in the range of 4.5 to 6, plants soon become chlorotic when lime is present. Succeeds in full sun or light shade though it fruits better in a sunny position[3]. Requires shelter from strong winds[3].
Dislikes root disturbance, plants are best grown in pots until being planted out in their permanent positions[3].
The fruit is borne singly rather than in clusters[5].
This species is closely related to V. parvifolium[6].
Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[3].
Range: Northern N. America - Quebec to Michigan, Oregon and Alaska.
Habitat: Thickets, open woods and peaty slopes[7].
Edibility: Fruit - raw or cooked[8][9][10][11][12]. Mildly acidic[4][3]. A pleasant sweet flavour[13]. The fruit is a reasonable source of vitamin C[12]. The fruit can also be dried for later use[5] when they have a flavour like raisins[14]. The fruit is about 10mm in diameter[3].
Medicinal: Antiseptic, astringent, carminative, hypoglycaemic[11].
An infusion of the leaves and sugar have been given to a mother after childbirth[12].
Pollinators: Insects
Soil: Can grow in light and medium soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Sheat, Wilfrid. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. St Martin, 1948.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Dirr, Michael and Charles Heuser. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press, 1987.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Bean, William. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Murray, 1981.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.
- ↑ Thomas, Graham. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray, 1992.
- ↑ Lyndon, Merritt. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co, 1950.
- ↑ Tanaka, Tyōzaburō. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing, 1976.
- ↑ Gunther, Erna. Ethnobotany of Western Washington. University of Washington Press, 1981.
- ↑ Yanovsky, Elias. Food Plants of the North American Indians Publication 237. US Department of Agriculture.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Schofield, Janice. Discovering Wild Plants.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Moerman, Daniel. Native American Ethnobotany. Timber Press, 1998.
- ↑ Davis, Ray and Frank Craighead. A Field Guide to Rocky Mountain Wildflowers. The Riverside Press, 1963.
- ↑ Turner, Nancy. Food Plants of Coastal First Peoples. UBC Press Vancouver, 1995.