Evergreen Huckleberry: How to Grow Evergreen Huckleberry

Evergreen huckleberry (Vaccinium ovatum Pursh) is a perennial evergreen shrub belonging to the Ericaceae family. Evergreen huckleberry bushes have glossy dark-green oval leaves with serrated edges that stay green all year long. In the spring, the bush features urn-shaped blooms in a pinkish flower color—which attract pollinators like butterflies and hummingbirds—followed by edible, purplish, or blue-black berries in the late summer.

Other common names for this evergreen shrub include the California huckleberry and the winter huckleberry. This deer-resistant plant is from the Pacific Northwest region of North America and grows in the coniferous forests of Oregon and Washington. Plant enthusiasts can also find these plants throughout California’s coastal redwood forests and coastal British Columbia.

For home gardeners, evergreen huckleberries work well as border hedges or foundation plantings. They thrive in USDA Hardiness Zones 7 through 9.

The best way to grow evergreen huckleberry bushes is to plant seeds collected from huckleberry fruit. (Propagation through softwood cuttings is difficult because they often do not root properly.) Here’s how to grow evergreen huckleberry shrubs in your backyard:

1. 1. Collect and clean the seeds. Harvest some huckleberries from a live, healthy evergreen huckleberry plant. Refrigerate the berries for a few days, then mash the fruit to separate the pulp from the seeds. Clean off each of the tiny seeds.
2. 2. Germinate the seeds. Fill a freezer bag with a mixture of peat moss and acidic soil and plant your seeds inside. Place the peat moss mixture inside of your fridge. This process—called cold stratification—forces your seeds into an early dormancy and helps to jump-start germination. Seedlings should emerge within six weeks. Learn more about germinating seeds.
3. 3. Transplant the seedlings. Once your seeds start to sprout, transplant them into a large pot. Leave your pot in a protected indoor area (such as a greenhouse) for the first winter. After the last frost of spring has reliably passed, move your shrubs into their permanent planting area in your garden.
4. 4. Prepare the planting area. Pick a planting spot in your garden with part sun and part shade. Note that full sun stunts their growth but yields more blooms and berries. Make sure your area has well-draining soil.
5. 5. Plant the shrubs. Dig a hole in your garden soil that is slightly larger than your shrub’s root ball. Move your evergreen huckleberry from its container into the hole and backfill the hole with soil. Water your shrub.

Evergreen huckleberry plants are low-maintenance and require minimal care to thrive. Follow these tips to set your evergreen huckleberry up for success.

1. 1. Water as necessary. Established evergreen huckleberries are drought-tolerant and don’t need much water. Water your shrub once every few weeks during dry seasons. Take care not to overwater your huckleberry bushes, which can lead to root rot.
   
2. 2. Prune to shape and encourage growth. Evergreen huckleberries are slow growers that don’t need much in the way of pruning. However, lightly pruning an evergreen huckleberry bush can improve its shape and encourage new growth.
3. 3. Monitor for fungal growth. Evergreen huckleberries are largely pest-resistant but may develop witch’s broom rust, which can disfigure the plant over time. Use sterilized shears to cut away leaves and branches with patchy red mold to prevent the spread of the affliction and improve the look of your bushes.

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