Common Name: Mountain Huckleberry

General Information

Vaccinium membranaceum is an erect, deciduous shrub growing from a rhizomatous rootstock. It rarely develops a crown, but spreads at the roots to form small to extensive clumps of stems usually 10 -110cm tall, occasionally to 300cm[, , , ].
This species is, by far, the most widely commercially utilized huckleberry for fruit in Western N. America. It is harvested extensively from the wild both for trade and for local use[]. It is an especially important source of food for native peoples throughout western North America, and the dried berries were used for winter food and trade. The plant yields a good quality fruit, said to be the best quality fruit within its native range[]. The plant also has medicinal qualities.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

Western N. America - Michigan and Alaska to California.

Habitat

Thickets and woodland edges[]. Moist woods[]. Thickets and on montane slopes in coniferous woods; growing in sandy orgravelly soils, ranging from moist to dry growing conditions; at elevations from 1,000 - 1,800 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Shrub
Height	0.80 m
Pollinators	Bees, Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Vaccinium membranaceum is very hardy, tolerating temperatures down to about -40°c in N. America[]. However, it is native to higher elevations and can be difficult to grow at low elevations[].
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[]. Established plants are extremely drought resistant and will carry on flowering and developing fruit even after 4 - 6 months without rain[, ].
The plant strongly dislikes root disturbance and can be difficult to establish. It is best grown in a pot until being planted out into its permanent position[, ].
In the autumn, after the fruit harvest, it was common for native N. American people to burn the areas where the plants grew in order to create a favourable habitat and increase future fruit yields. Regular, annual burning does not usually kill off the top growth, even if it does, the fire als stimulates new growth. The fire also creates sunny openings in the forest and edges that foster the rapid spread of nutritious herbs and shrubs that favour the huckleberries[, ].
Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or cooked[, , , ]. A sweet but rather acid flavour[]. Sour but delicious according to other reports[, ]. This fruit is amongst the largest and best flavoured of all the wild blueberries[]. A reasonable source of vitamin C[]. The native North Americans would often dry the fruit for use in the winter[]. Traditionally, the surplus berries were dried slowly over a fire kept smoldering in a rotten log - this method of drying the berries has been shown to preserves the bulk of the Vitamin C content in the fruits[].
The shiny or dull black or deep purple, rarely red or white, berries are around 9 - 13mm in diameter[].

Medicinal

An infusion of the roots and stems has been used in the treatment of heart troubles, arthritis and rheumatism[].

The leaves and finely chopped stems contain quinic acid, a former therapeutic agent used in the treatment of gout - it is said to inhibit uric acid formation but has never been widely used because of mixed clinical results[].
The leaves have been widely used to lower or modify blood sugar levels. Many herbalists maintain that bilberry-leaf tea may be useful in stabilizing blood sugar levels in cases of diabetes, and medical research has shown that consumption of the leaf extract decreases blood sugar levels shortly after administration. Taken on regular basis, bilberry tea will gradually help alleviate both glycosuria and hyperglycemia and has a benign but useful effect as an adjunct treatment to diabetes mellitus[].
The leaves are believed also to stimulate appetite, and have astringent and antiseptic qualities that are useful in the treatment of urinary disorders[, ].

Other Uses

The juice of the fruits is used as a lavender or purple dye. It is traditionally used to colour the twined corn husk bags made by the Nez Perce[].

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.
Rhizome cuttings in early spring or late summer and autumn. Dig up the rhizomes and cut them into lengths of 10cm or longer. Place the cuttings in vermiculite at 21°c. Once the roots are established and meristematic activity is initiated, the small cuttings may be moved to individual pots with a peat:sand soil mixture (1:1) potting soil. The soil should be kept fairly moist. When plants are the size desired, plant in soils that are fairly acidic[]. Plants must be kept well watered to become established[].
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[].