Northwest Blooms · Shrubs
Vaccinium glaucoalbum
Himalayan Huckleberry
- Family
- Ericaceae
- Height
- 2 ft to 4 ft
- Width
- 2 ft to 4 ft
- Flower color
- Small urn shaped white to pale pink flowers borne in short clustered racemes
- Foliage color
- Glossy deep green leaves with a leathery texture and lighter undersides; new red growth
- Bloom time
- Spring
- Light
- Partial shade
- Water
- Moderate to high; prefers consistently moist acidic soil
- Maintenance
- Low; prune lightly after fruiting to shape and remove weak or crowded growth
- Growing zone
- USDA zones 7 to 9
- Wildlife
- Pollinators attracted to nectar rich flowers and birds attracted to edible berries
About this plant
Vaccinium glaucoalbum produces small, urn-shaped white flowers flushed with pale pink in spring, hanging in delicate clusters along the stems and followed by blue-black berries. Elliptical leaves are thick and leathery, deep green above with a subtle bluish cast beneath, creating a refined, polished appearance throughout the year. New growth often emerges with a soft reddish tint, adding seasonal color, while the flowers are tucked neatly among the foliage, later giving way to ornamental fruit.
Native to the Himalayan region, this species reflects adaptation to cool, mountainous environments. It is well suited to woodland gardens, mixed borders, and sheltered plantings, where its evergreen presence and fruiting habit provide year-round structure and seasonal interest.
Companion plants
Sarcococca · Rodgersia · Cyclamen · Fatsia · Lungwort · Primrose
Design tip
Make the most of Himalayan Huckleberry’s changing foliage by keeping it within easy view throughout the year. Reddish new growth shifts to polished deep green, while blue-black berries add another seasonal layer without disrupting the shrub’s restrained evergreen character.
Where to see it
This plant can be seen at the Bellevue Botanical Garden.
