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Box huckleberry

Gaylussacia brachycera

Last reviewed: September 2026

Box huckleberry (Gaylussacia brachycera)
Photo: no rights reserved

Toxicity unknown

Box huckleberry (Gaylussacia brachycera) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.

Light

part sun

Water

medium

Size

6"–18" H × 24"–60" W

Bloom

Apr, May

Native to

DE, KY, MD, NC and 4 more states

Pollinators

bees

Before you buy

Your city may pay you to plant this

Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 452 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.

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A low, evergreen groundcover shrub with small, glossy, boxwood-like leaves and clusters of small pink bell-shaped flowers, followed by blue-black berries. Spreads slowly by rhizomes into long-lived colonies.

Wildlife value

Flowers provide nectar for bees, and the berries are eaten by birds and small mammals.

Common questions

How much sun does Box huckleberry need?
Box huckleberry grows best in part sun conditions.
When does Box huckleberry bloom?
Box huckleberry blooms in April and May.
Where is Box huckleberry native?
Box huckleberry (Gaylussacia brachycera) is native to DE, KY, MD, NC and 4 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
What pollinators does Box huckleberry attract?
Box huckleberry draws bees.

Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

If something looks wrong

Common plant problems, and what to check first

These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.

See all plant problem guides

Ready to grow Box huckleberry? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.

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