Fruit

Evergreen Huckleberry

A tier

Evergreen huckleberry (Vaccinium ovatum) is a West Coast shrub with small shiny dark berries and glossy evergreen leaves—flavour sweet-tart and mild-wild, excellent fresh and in jams. Unlike high-mountain membranaceum, it thrives in coastal forests and is sometimes landscaped. Berries hold on plants into winter in mild climates. Pick late fall into winter on the coast; flavour sweetens with cold nights. Jelly is superb. Ornamental-edible hedges produce for wildlife and people. Distinguish from invasive lookalikes by Vaccinium traits.