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Key characteristics

Family: Ericaceae
Height: 12 in to 24 in
Width: 24 in to 36 in
Flower color: Tiny urn shaped white to pink flowers borne singly or in small clusters
Foliage color: Small rounded deep green leaves with a smooth surface and dense compact habit
Bloom time: Late spring to early summer
Light: Partial shade to full sun in cooler climates
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 berries

Shrubs

Vaccinium nummularia

Himalayan Whortleberry

Vaccinium nummularia produces small, urn-shaped pink to reddish flowers in spring, nestled closely along the stems and followed by dark, berry-like fruit. Rounded, coin-shaped leaves are small, glossy, and deep green, forming a dense, trailing mat that hugs the ground and creates a finely textured surface. The foliage remains neat and closely spaced, with flowers appearing just above the leaves and blending into the overall form.

Light

Partial shade to full sun in cooler climates

Water

Moderate to high; prefers consistently moist acidic soil

Bloom time

Late spring to early summer

Find this plant

Companion plants

Mahonias · Astilbe · Heucheras · Maidenhair fern · Corydalis · Lily-of-the-valley

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.