Box huckleberry
Gaylussacia brachycera
Last reviewed: October 2026
Box huckleberry (Gaylussacia brachycera) is a perennial shrub native to DE, KY, MD, NC and 4 more states. It blooms in April and May. The flowers draw bees.

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 459 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
Find rebates in your areaPicture natives in your own yard
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Browse plants for this ecoregion
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.
Growing Box huckleberry
Grow Box huckleberry in part sun and medium water. Mature plants reach 6 to 18 inches tall and spread 24 to 60 inches wide.
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.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Box huckleberry? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
