Bayshore/ Black Huckleberry

COMMON NAME: Black Huckleberry

OTHER COMMON NAME(S): Highbush Huckleberry,

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Gaylussacia baccata

FAMILY: Ericaceae

COMMUNITY: Maritime Forest

STATUS: Native

LIFESPAN: Perennial (Tree)

HEIGHT: to 3 feet

FLOWERING TIME: Early May to July

FRUITING TIME: Late July to September

DISTRIBUTION: Newfoundland to Quebec, west to Ontario ~ Statewide in NJ ~ Grows in dry sandy or rocky soil in thickets

IDENTIFYING CHARACTERISTICS: Shrub ~ Leaves small, oval dark green, resinous dots on young leaves, toothless, dark red in fall ~ Twigs slender, greenish or reddish ~ Flowers greenish-red, bell-shaped, in short one-sided clusters ~ Berries blue-black, sweet but seedy

GENERAL INFORMATION: This family, Ericaceae commonly called the Heath Family consists of 103 genera and 3,350 species of shrubs, lianas and small trees.  Many members of this family are of great horticultural and gastronomic interest, including Rhododendrons, Azaleas, Heathers and Cranberries, Blueberries and Bilberries.  “Heath” in Green is ereike, Latin erica. Huckleberries resemble Blueberries, to which they are closely related, the fruit of the Huckleberry is more seedy than the Blueberry. The berries also make good jams, jellies and pies.  The berries can also be dried and eaten as a dried fruit. The berries of Black Huckleberry are eaten by upland gamebirds and song birds and mammals.  The bush provides cover for song birds and small mammals. Black Huckleberry may be managed as a huckleberry-blueberry shrub community. Light burning in the Spring at 2 to 3 year intervals favors blueberries, while burning at intervals of 5 years or longer favors huckleberry.  Black Huckleberry is useful for erosion control and its attractive foliage, flowers and fruit make it suitable for ornamental plantings.  

Please note: While harvesting wild berries/fruit is permitted at Island Beach State Park, visitors must adhere to park regulations at all times and must not damage vegetation or go off designated trails.  This information is presented for educational purposes.