Vaccinium parvifolium seeds (Red Huckleberry)

Description

Pacific Northwest Native.  Juicy sweet-tart retina burning red 7-12mm berries festoon this deciduous shrub. From late June to Sept, good pickings can be had.  Does best in sunny locations where the plant takes on an upright, 2m columnar form and is incredibly productive with repeated harvest. In shady sites, the form is more relaxed to catch more light coming through the forest canopy and fruit production is scant. Very fine oblong paper thin leaves. Forms very hard woody stems over time. Small greenish bell shaped flowers are among the first to flower providing nectar & pollen to native bees and other pollinators.  In my opinion, out produces any blueberry cultivar with its repeated harvests.

• Seed Count: 100+
• Collection Date: July 2024
• Hardiness Zone: 5-9
• Height and Width: 2m x 1m
• Germination test type: float
• Family: Ericaceae

How to germinate Vaccinium parvifolium seed:

Soak seed 24 hours. Surface sow in seeding medium of equal parts sand and peat. Tamp firm. Mist. Keep moist. Keep seedbed shaded. Cold stratify 60-90 days. Expose to Spring conditions for germination. Keep seedlings shaded from strong direct sun. I’ve seen a great many plants growing on half rotten stumps and nurse logs.