Dwarf black-huckleberry, Dwarf huckleberry
Gaylussacia dumosa
Ericaceae


Landscape Uses:

Primarily recommended for natural landscapes and habitat restorations. Also an accent shrub.

Ecological Restoration Notes:

Availability:
Grown by one or two native plant nurseries in Florida.
Description:
Small shrub. Leaves small, shiny.
Height:
About 1-2 feet tall. Spreading from underground stems (rhizomes) and forming clumps as broad as tall.
Growth Rate:
Moderate.
Range:
Eastern North America west to Louisiana and south to Palm Beach and Collier counties; very rare south of Martin and Lee counties.
Habitats:
Pinelands and scrubby flatwoods.
Soils:
Moist to dry, well-drained sandy soils, without humus.
Nutritional Requirements:
Low; it grows in nutrient poor soils.
Salt Water Tolerance:
Low; does not tolerate flooding by salt or brackish water.
Salt Wind Tolerance:
Low; salt wind may burn the leaves.
Drought Tolerance:
High; does not require any supplemental water once established.
Light Requirements:
Full sun.
Flower Color:
White to pinkish.
Flower Characteristics:
Semi-showy.
Flowering Season:
Spring.
Fruit:
Shiny black drupe.
Wildlife and Ecology:
Horticultural Notes:
Comments:
See also the Florida Wildflower Foundation's Flower Friday page.


Shirley Denton
Shirley Denton