California-huckleberry
Vaccinium ovatum
Last reviewed: August 2026
Light
part shade
Water
medium
Size
36"–96" H × 36"–72" W
Bloom
Mar, Apr, May
Native to
CA, OR, WA
Pollinators
bumble bees, native 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 431 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
Find rebates in your areaEvergreen huckleberry is a dense, upright shrub with small glossy leathery leaves that bronze in cold weather, and clusters of small pink-white bell-shaped flowers. It forms an understory layer in coniferous forests and tolerates shade well.
Wildlife value
Bumble bees and other native bees pollinate the bell flowers, and the small dark berries that follow are eaten by birds and small mammals.
Common questions
- How much sun does California-huckleberry need?
- California-huckleberry grows best in part shade conditions.
- When does California-huckleberry bloom?
- California-huckleberry blooms in March, April, and May.
- Where is California-huckleberry native?
- California-huckleberry (Vaccinium ovatum) is native to CA, OR, WA, per vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists.
- What pollinators does California-huckleberry attract?
- California-huckleberry draws bumble bees and native bees.
Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
Ready to grow California-huckleberry? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
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