Description

The heath family is well represented in California, including our manzanita, madrone, rhododendrons and many others. The huckleberries are among them, divided into about nine species found primarily in the northern Sierra Nevada and Cascades. California huckleberry is unusual in inhabiting coastal mountains from San Diego County into Oregon and beyond. One often finds California huckleberry under the shade of conifers in seasonably moist areas. It grows as a fairly open, rounded shrub to around eight feet with dark green tightly spaced leaves. The flowers are pendant little white bells, typical of the heath family. These give way to edible blue berries, which are among the better tasting of native berries. California huckleberry is adaptable to a variety of soils and sun exposures, but do appreciate acidic soil.