Photo by: Paul Rebman
Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS

Nomenclature

Common Name:

sparkleberry, farkleberry

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Vaccinium arboreum

Family:

Ericaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

tree

Size:

15-25 ft tall by 4-15 ft wide

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

white

Fruit Color:

black

Phenology:

Deciduous. Blooms in spring. Fruits ripen late summer. Moderately long-lived (Nelson 2003).

Noted For:

Showy Flowers, Fall Color, Interesting Bark

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

A profuse bloomer. Use for natural landscapes and wildlife habitat areas. Does well under a high pine canopy.

Considerations:

Availability:

Native Nurseries, Seed

Propagation:

Seed and softwood cuttings.

Light:

Part Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded------------------------------------------------Extremely Dry

Coming Soon!

Somewhat moist, no flooding ---to--- Very long very dry periods

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand

Soil pH:

Acidic

Suitable to Grow In:

8A,8B,9A,9B

Ecology

Wildlife:

Butterflies, Caterpillars, Birds, Mammals

Larval host for striped hairstreak ( Satyrium liparops ).





Attracts many pollinators; especially valuable to native bees.

Fruit is consumed by birds and other wildlife.

Native Habitats:

Dry sites. Xeric hammock, dryf mesic hardwoods, may be in upper edges of floodplains, overgrown flatwoods, coastal dunes, sandhill, scrubby sandhill.

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

Fruit not particularly tasty to humans.

General Comments: