How to Grow and Care for Huckleberry

Huckleberry Care

If you want to grow a huckleberry plant, keep in mind these essential care requirements:

• Plant in well-draining soil and mulch around the base of the shrub.
• Choose a location that receives at least five to six hours of direct sun.
• Water deeply when the soil is dry.
• Supplement soil nutrients with a well-balanced fertilizer in the spring.

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Light

Huckleberry shrubs reach their maximum height potential (up to 10 feet for some species) when grown in partial shade conditions.

However, lower levels of light exposure reduce fruit production. If your primary objective for growing huckleberry is to harvest the fruit, you should grow the shrub in a spot that receives at least five to six hours of sunlight each day.

Soil

Plant huckleberry in well-draining soil with an acidic pH level. Before planting the shrub, test your soil pH and utilize common amendments like sphagnum peat moss or iron sulfate to make the soil more acidic if necessary.

Water

Huckleberry shrubs require regular watering but the soil shouldn’t remain overly moist and soggy. With regular rainfall, you may not need to water the shrubs. But if rainfall is inconsistent, water deeply when the top layer of soil feels dry. 

Temperature and Humidity

Specific temperature and humidity requirements vary based on the species of huckleberry bush but these plants are winter hardy.

In fact, huckleberry shrubs require a stretch of deep cold to facilitate fruit production in the growing season. 

Fertilizer

Huckleberry plants grow best in nutrient-rich soil. If the soil is rich in natural organic matter, fertilization is likely unnecessary. If the soil lacks available nutrients, use a well-balanced fertilizer like 10-10-10 in the spring.

Avoid fertilizing late in the growing season because of the risk of prompting abundant new growth that will be vulnerable during the winter months. 

When, Where, and How to Plant Huckleberries

Plant huckleberry bushes in the spring, after the threat of frost has passed. Choose a planting site that has well-draining soil and at least partial sun—or full sun if you’re looking to maximize berry production.

If you’re planting multiple huckleberry bushes, ensure that you have at least 3 to 4 feet of space between shrubs.

Dig a hole that is approximately twice as large as the shrub’s root ball. Place the plant into the hole and fill it with dirt. Gently compact the soil around the base of the shrub and water thoroughly. Mulch the base of the plant to improve moisture retention.

Types of Huckleberry

There are several types of huckleberry shrubs native to North America. Huckleberry plants in the Gaylussacia genus are native to eastern North America while shrubs in the Vaccinium genus are native to western North America. While plants in the Gaylussacia genus are often referred to as true huckleberry species, species within the Vaccinium genus have come to be known as huckleberry shrubs as well. Gaylussacia species of huckleberry are deciduous or semi-evergreen while some types of Vaccinium huckleberry are evergreen.

Gaylussacia Genus

• Gaylussacia baccata ‘Black huckleberry’: Native to the eastern region of North America, this type of huckleberry produces fruits that mature to a deep blue-black color. 
• Gaylussacia dumosa ‘Dwarf huckleberry’: Reaches a mature height of about two feet tall and has deciduous or semi-evergreen foliage. The shrub produces fruit in late summer to early fall. 

Vaccinium Genus

• Vaccinium ovata ‘Evergreen huckleberry’: An evergreen huckleberry species, this shrub is often grown for its ornamental foliage, featuring leathery green ovate leaves. Evergreen huckleberry is often known for prolific berry production and the tart fruits are commonly used for baking or making jams. 
• Vaccinium parvifolium ‘Red huckleberry’: Instead of producing dark blue-black berries, this deciduous shrub produces small red berries with a tart and slightly sweet flavor profile.

Propagating Huckleberry 

Huckleberry can be propagated by means of cuttings or layering but be advised that it can be challenging to successfully root these plants. If you decide to propagate by means of a cutting, take a hardwood cutting in the winter, while the parent plant is dormant and before it produces new growth.

Layering, on the other hand, should be done during the active growing season, giving the parent plant an opportunity to supply nutrients to the new growth you’re hoping to facilitate. 

Here’s how to propagate huckleberry using cuttings or layering:

Cuttings

1. Identify a healthy branch and cut a 5-inch section from the branch using pruning shears. Leave the top two or three leaves and remove all other foliage from the branch.
2. Apply rooting hormone to the cut end of the branch.
3. Fill a small container with soilless potting mix and plant the cutting. Moisten and place the container in a warm indoor area with bright, indirect light. Water consistently but avoid oversaturating the potting mix.
4. Monitor the cutting for signs of growth; foliage and roots may develop within a few months. To check for root development, gently pull on the cutting to see if you feel any resistance from a root system. 
5. Once roots are present and the last threat of frost has passed in the spring, transplant the cutting outdoors. 

Layering

1. Choose a branch from the lower region of the shrub that is long and flexible enough to reach the ground. Keep in mind that the branch will remain attached to the parent shrub but a section of it will be buried with the end of the branch sticking up into the air. 
2. Dig a 1- to 2-inch deep channel in the dirt and bend the branch to rest in the channel. Remove some of the bark from the section of the branch that rests on the ground and apply rooting hormone, if desired.
3. With part of the branch lying in the channel and the free end of the branch extending into the air, use rocks or stakes to secure the branch. Fill in the channel with dirt. 
4. Periodically uncover the buried section of the branch to check for roots; it may take several months for the branch to develop a network of firm, white roots. Once substantial roots are present, you can cut the branch from the parent shrub and transplant the new shrub to your desired spot. 

Common Pests 

The most common pests for a huckleberry shrub include scale, spider mites, mealybugs, and aphids. In some cases, it may be possible to address the pest invasion by physically removing the pests from the plant using a garden hose or plucking the insects off.

In other cases, you may need to treat the plant with neem oil or another insecticidal product to control the infestation. 

Common Problems With Huckleberry Shrubs

Since huckleberry shrubs typically grow wild with no one closely managing the growing conditions, it’s safe to say that they are relatively low-maintenance shrubs.

However, these are the most common problems to watch out for when growing huckleberry shrubs and the usual remedies to counteract these challenges.

Leaves Turning Yellow

If the leaves of a huckleberry shrub begin to turn yellow, there may be several underlying causes. Overwatering can induce root rot, which eventually will cause the foliage of the shrub to turn yellow. But another common reason that huckleberry leaves turn yellow is incorrect soil pH. Huckleberry plants thrive in acidic soil so if the pH level becomes too high, chlorosis—or yellowing of the leaves—can occur. Use soil amendments to increase soil acidity.

Spotted Leaves

Tan, brown or black spots that appear on huckleberry leaves may indicate a fungal infection. The most common fungus infections for huckleberry shrubs include Cercospora and Anthracnose. If you suspect a fungal infection, treat the leaves with neem oil. 

Some of the most important steps to preventing the start or spread of a fungal infection include making sure that there is sufficient airflow through and around the limbs of the shrub. Trim away dead branches and prune as needed to allow for plenty of ventilation for the limbs.

Replace the mulch each year. It’s also worth noting that sufficient sun exposure lowers the chance of a fungus infection.

Thick Stems With Few Leaves

A huckleberry shrub with abnormal stems (either misshapen or discolored) is likely to be infected with a fungus that produces a condition known as witches’ broom. The invading fungal disease can hinder the plant’s production of foliage and fruit and disrupt its appearance with swollen or snarled branches.

Although you can trim the unsightly branches from the shrub there’s no cure for this fungal infection so the only permanent solution is to remove and dispose of the shrub.