FNPS Plant Database

Gaylussacia frondosa var. tomentosa

blue huckleberry

PHOTOS COMING SOON!

Nomenclature

Common Name:

blue huckleberry

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Gaylussacia frondosa var. tomentosa

Family:

Ericaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

shrub

Size:

3-5 (7) ft tall, but spreads by rhisomes to form colonies.

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

white

Fruit Color:

blue

Phenology:

deciduous

Noted For:

Showy Flowers, Showy Fruits, Fall Color

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Shrub for woodland edge or casual garden.

Considerations:

Availability:

Seed

Propagation:

Stem cuttings. Root division. Seed.

Light:

Part Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

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

Coming Soon!

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

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand

Soil pH:

Acidic

Suitable to Grow In:

8A,8B,9A,9B

USDA zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature.



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Ecology

Wildlife:

Pollinators, Birds, Mammals

Pollinated primarily by native bees.

Fruits are prized by a variety of birds and mammals. 

Native Habitats:

Sandhills, scrub, flatwoods, cypress swamp margins. Acid soils. Mesic to dry-mesic flatwoods, edges of bayneads, cypress depressions, cutthroat seeps.

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

Edible. Seeds are large, but edible. Can be used in jams and pies.

General Comments:

Citations:

Wunderlin, R. P., B. F. Hansen, A. R. Franck, and F. B. Essig. 2021. Atlas of Florida Plants (http://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/). Institute for Systematic Botany, University of South Florida, Tampa.

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