Vaccinium membranaceum – Mountain Huckleberry – Ericaceae (The Heath Family)

Description Vaccinium membranaceum, commonly known as mountain or black huckleberry, is the most common of the wild western huckleberries and native to most of BC into the Yukon and Alberta and points south. Creamy-pink to yellow urn-shaped flowers bloom in late spring followed by dark red-black berries in late summer that are larger than its evergreen cousins and tasty too, but the fruit does contain lots of tiny seeds. The shrub itself is small and erect growing from 4 to 5 feet tall and resistant to fire in that plants can easily resprout from the base. In the wild, bear consume all parts of the shrub. Elk, deer and moose also browse on the plant. Thickets of mountain huckleberry also provide cover for many species of small animals. First Nations people still use this plant as an important cultural food and actively manage it. Incredibly versatile from sun to shade and in dry to moist soils. In the landscape, use as an informal hedge, in the food and native gardens, and in containers. Fruit can be consumed fresh or used in baking and preserves. Attracts bees. Photo: Wikipedia.