Plant Details

Gaylussacia baccata

Black Huckleberry

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Explore the size, hardiness, soil, light, edible uses and harvest period of Gaylussacia baccata.

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Common names

12 names · 11 languages
EnglishYour language
Other languages (10)
Dutch
  • Zwarte bosbes
French
  • Gaylussacie à fruits noirs
  • gaylussaquier à fruits bacciformes[2]
Cherokee
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
Finnish
  • palokruunumustikka[2]
Lithuanian
  • Uoginė uolabruknė[2]
Ojibwe
Slovak
  • čučoriedkovka bobuľnatá[2]
Swedish
Sources & name notes (2)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Gaylussacia baccata (Wangenh.) K.Koch ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • Black huckleberry — VernacularName.tsv, line 153434; taxon 6JYVK.
[2] Gaylussacia baccata — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • black huckleberry — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 128805; Gaylussacia baccata.
  • Miinan — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 128805; Gaylussacia baccata.
  • 佳露果 — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 128805; Gaylussacia baccata.
  • 佳露果 — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 128805; Gaylussacia baccata.
  • gaylussaquier à fruits bacciformes — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 128805; Gaylussacia baccata.
  • Uoginė uolabruknė — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 128805; Gaylussacia baccata.
  • ᎧᏩᏯ — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 128805; Gaylussacia baccata.
  • bockbär — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 128805; Gaylussacia baccata.
  • palokruunumustikka — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 128805; Gaylussacia baccata.
  • čučoriedkovka bobuľnatá — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 128805; Gaylussacia baccata.

General information

Scientific name: Gaylussacia baccata
Accepted name (Kew): Gaylussacia baccata (Wangenh.) K.Koch View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Ericaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Gaylussacia (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Black Huckleberry

Plant characteristics

Layer: Shrub
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 0.3–0.91 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Spread: 0.61–1.22 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Growth rate: Moderate
Foliage: Deciduous
Sources [3]
Growth habit: Dense, Multi-stemmed

Whole-plant habit and form as described by NC State.

Sources [3]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 5-9
Soil moisture:
Well-drained, Moist, Occasionally Dry

Moisture and drainage conditions listed by NC State.

Sources [3]
Soil:
Loam (Silt), Sand, Shallow Rocky
Sources [3]
pH:
Acid (<6.0)
Sources [3]
Light:
Full sun, Partial Shade
Sources [3]

Uses

Edible parts:
Fruit
Edibility rating:
(4)
Medicinal rating:
(1)
Functions:
Dye, Fibre, Hedge, Oil, Food forest

Description

Fruits - can be consumed both raw and cooked. They have a delicious spicy and sweet flavor and can be eaten directly or used in pies, jams, and other dishes. They can also be dried for later consumption. The dried fruits can be ground into powder and mixed with flour to make bread. The fruit has a sticky texture and is about 8 mm in size.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 15/07
Harvest ends: 15/09

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 1396412; name ID 2818315; Gaylussacia Kunth. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 1396421; name ID 2818325; Gaylussacia baccata (Wangenh.) K.Koch.

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Gaylussacia baccata

    Taxonomic data from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 2182977, ID 6JYVK: Gaylussacia baccata (Wangenh.) K.Koch (accepted).

    Source checked on .

  3. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Gaylussacia baccata — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Relevant sections
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Light: Light
    • Soil moisture: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH

    Source checked on .