Common Name: Hairy Huckleberry

General Information

Vaccinium hirsutum is a low-growing, deciduous shrub, spreading by means of rhizomes to form open colonies of growth around 25 - 75cm tall[, , ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

South-eastern N. America - Tennessee, North Carolina and Georgia

Habitat

Open woods[]. Dry oak-pine ridges and mountain meadows; at elevations from 600 - 1,500 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Habit	Deciduous Shrub
Height	0.50 m
Pollinators	Insects
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

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[, ]. 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[]. Requires shelter from strong winds[].
Plants are self-sterile, at least two plants from different sources must be grown if seed is required.
Dislikes root disturbance, plants are best grown in pots until being planted out in their permanent positions[].
Given a position that is moist and not too sunny, the plant spreads rapidly by means of underground suckers to form quite large colonies[, ].
Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or cooked[, ]. A sweet and pleasant taste according to some reports[, , ], though others say that it is gritty and insipid[, ]. The blue-black fruit is about 6 - 9mm in diameter[, , ].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - sow late winter in a greenhouse in a lime-free potting mix and only just cover the seed[]. Stored seed might require a period of up to 3 months cold stratification[]. Another report says that it is best to sow the seed in a greenhouse as soon as it is ripe[]. 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[]. Slow and difficult.
Layering in late summer or early autumn[]. Another report says that spring is the best time to layer[]. Takes 18 months[].
Division of suckers in spring or early autumn[].