Gaylussacia frondosa: Country Or Region Of Origin
Eastern U.S.A
Plant Profile: Gaylussacia frondosa
Taxonomy: Gaylussacia frondosaNames
Blue Huckleberry, Dangleberry
Phonetic Spelling:gay-luh-SAY-shee-uh frond-OH-suh
Genus:Gaylussacia
Species:frondosa
Family:Ericaceae
The Blue Huckleberry is a deciduous shrub that typically reaches heights of 3 to 4 feet. Its leaves are arranged alternately, featuring a fuzzy edge and yellow resinous spots on the underside. The bark has a gray-brown hue and exhibits fine peeling. In the spring, the shrub blooms with small, bell-shaped flowers that range in color from white to pink. By late summer, it bears small drupes that are blue to black in color, which are edible.
Gaylussacia frondosa Feature Summary
Gaylussacia frondosa Image Gallery
Tags
#deciduous
#drought tolerant
#semi-evergreen
#wildlife plant
#native shrub
#riparian
#wetlands
#wet sites
#food source
#low flammability
#NC native
#fire resistant
#pollinator plant
#larval host plant
#food source summer
#food source herbage
#food source nectar
#food source pollen
#coastal FAC
#Piedmont Mountains FAC
#fruits
#bird friendly
#nectar plant late spring
#mammals
#food source soft mast fruit
#butterfly friendly
#nectar plant mid-spring
#butterfly larvae
#pollinator garden
#bee friendly
#audubon
#henry’s elfin butterfly
Similar Plants
Gaylussacia frondosa Feature Summary
Attributes
Eastern U.S.A
This plant provides nectar for pollinators. It is a host plant for Henry's Elfin butterfly (Callophrys henrici) larvae which appear from February to May and have one flight. Adult Henry's Elfin butterflies feed on flower nectar. Butterflies are attracted to its blooms. Its thickets provide cover for wildlife, while birds including grouse, bobwhite, scarlet tanagers and wild turkeys eat the berries.
fire in the landscape.
Fruits are highly edible and enjoyed by humans and wildlife alike.
Woody
low flammability
Fruit
Blue-black oval berries. Displays from June to August.
Black
Blue
Edible
Summer
Flowers
In the spring, small white to pink bell or cup-shaped flowers mature on the Blue huckleberry. They are followed by a blue to black edible berry. Blooms from March to May.
Pink
White
Spring
Cup
Bell
Leaves
They have a fuzzy margin and yellow resin dots on the underside
Deciduous
Green
Bark
The bark is gray-brown and finely peeling.
Dark Gray
Dark Brown
Peeling
Stem
Its twigs are brown, green or red. There are three or more scales on the winter buds, and they overlap like shingles, with one edge covered and the other edge exposed.
Brown/Copper
Green
Red/Burgundy
Scaly
Whole Plant Traits
Perennial
Shrub
Edible
Native Plant
Deciduous
Slow
Low
Medium
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Acid (<6.0)
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasionally Wet
Coastal
Piedmont
Landscape
Butterfly Garden
Pollinator Garden
Wet Soil
Fire
Naturalized Area
Butterflies
Pollinators
Small Mammals
Hummingbirds
Gaylussacia frondosa Image Gallery
Gaylussacia frondosa Attributes
Gaylussacia frondosa: Wildlife Value
This plant provides nectar for pollinators. It is a host plant for Henry's Elfin butterfly (Callophrys henrici) larvae which appear from February to May and have one flight. Adult Henry's Elfin butterflies feed on flower nectar. Butterflies are attracted to its blooms. Its thickets provide cover for wildlife, while birds including grouse, bobwhite, scarlet tanagers and wild turkeys eat the berries.
Gaylussacia frondosa: Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems)
fire in the landscape.
Gaylussacia frondosa: Edibility
Fruits are highly edible and enjoyed by humans and wildlife alike.
Gaylussacia frondosa: Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Gaylussacia frondosa: Fire Risk Rating
extreme flammability
high flammability
low flammability
medium flammability
Gaylussacia frondosa Fruit
Gaylussacia frondosa: Fruit Description
Blue-black oval berries. Displays from June to August.
Gaylussacia frondosa: Fruit Color
Black
Blue
Gaylussacia frondosa: Fruit Value To Gardener
Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy
Gaylussacia frondosa: Display/Harvest Time
Fall
Spring
Summer
Winter
Gaylussacia frondosa Flowers
Gaylussacia frondosa: Flower Description
In the spring, small white to pink bell or cup-shaped flowers mature on the Blue huckleberry. They are followed by a blue to black edible berry. Blooms from March to May.
Gaylussacia frondosa: Flower Color
Pink
White
Gaylussacia frondosa: Flower Bloom Time
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Gaylussacia frondosa: Flower Shape
Bell
Cross
Crown
Cup
Dome
Funnel
Irregular
Lipped
Radial
Saucer
Star
Trumpet
Tubular
Urn
Wheel
Gaylussacia frondosa Leaves
Gaylussacia frondosa: Leaf Description
They have a fuzzy margin and yellow resin dots on the underside
Gaylussacia frondosa: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Gaylussacia frondosa: Leaf Color
Green
Gaylussacia frondosa: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Gaylussacia frondosa Bark
Gaylussacia frondosa: Bark Description
The bark is gray-brown and finely peeling.
Gaylussacia frondosa: Bark Color
Dark Brown
Dark Gray
Gaylussacia frondosa: Surface/Attachment
Bumpy
Exfoliating
Fissured
Furrowed
Lenticels
Papery
Patchy
Peeling
Ridges
Scaly
Shaggy
Shiny
Shredding
Smooth
Spongy
Gaylussacia frondosa Stem
Gaylussacia frondosa: Stem Description
Its twigs are brown, green or red. There are three or more scales on the winter buds, and they overlap like shingles, with one edge covered and the other edge exposed.
Gaylussacia frondosa: Stem Color
Brown/Copper
Green
Red/Burgundy
Gaylussacia frondosa: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Gaylussacia frondosa: Stem Buds
Hairy
Hairy tips
Scaly
Smooth/Hairless
Gaylussacia frondosa Whole Plant Traits
Gaylussacia frondosa: Plant Type
Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower
Gaylussacia frondosa: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Gaylussacia frondosa: Growth Rate
Slow
Medium
Rapid
Gaylussacia frondosa: Maintenance
Low
Medium
High
Gaylussacia frondosa: Texture
Fine
Medium
Coarse
Gaylussacia frondosa Cultural Conditions
Gaylussacia frondosa: Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Gaylussacia frondosa: Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Gaylussacia frondosa: Soil Drainage
Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry
Gaylussacia frondosa: NC Region
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
Gaylussacia frondosa Landscape
Gaylussacia frondosa: Landscape Theme
Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden
Gaylussacia frondosa: Resistance To Challenges
Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind
Gaylussacia frondosa: Landscape Location
Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland
Gaylussacia frondosa: Attracts
Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees
