Vaccinium ovatum
California huckleberry
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Family: Ericaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Vaccinium ovatum (California huckleberry) is a native California shrub in the Ericaceae family, recognized by evergreen leathery leaves, umbel-like inflorescences, and robust habit.
California huckleberry is a native shrub found in coastal and interior regions including northern California coast, Klamath Ranges, central California coast, San Francisco Bay Area, northern Channel Islands, western Transverse Ranges, and Peninsular Ranges at elevations of 3 to 800 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces small, delicate white to pink urn-shaped flowers in dense umbel-like clusters. Growing 5 to 9.5 feet tall with stout, erect stems that are grayish and not rooting, it forms a dense, sturdy shrub. Its evergreen leaves are elliptic to lanceolate, 2 to 5 centimeters long, leathery with serrated edges and sparse dark glandular hairs on the undersides. The fruit is a black, glossy berry 6 to 9 millimeters in diameter, which develops after flowering.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 8 sympatric species; key features are evergreen leathery leaves, umbel-like inflorescences, and robust habit
Habitat and range
Habitat: Edges, clearings in conifer forest
Elevation: 3-800 m
California counties: Humboldt, Santa Cruz, San Mateo, Mendocino, Monterey, Del Norte, San Luis Obispo, Sonoma, Santa Barbara, Mariposa, Marin, San Diego, Alameda, San Francisco, Contra Costa, Napa, Siskiyou, San Benito
Outside California: to British Columbia
Bloom period
Vaccinium ovatum blooms Mar-May.
Frequently asked questions
Is Vaccinium ovatum native to California?
Yes. Vaccinium ovatum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Vaccinium ovatum bloom?
Vaccinium ovatum blooms Mar-May.
Where in California does Vaccinium ovatum grow?
Vaccinium ovatum occurs in Humboldt, Santa Cruz, San Mateo, Mendocino, Monterey, Del Norte, San Luis Obispo, Sonoma and other counties, at elevations of 3-800 m.
What plant family does Vaccinium ovatum belong to?
Vaccinium ovatum is in the Ericaceae family, genus Vaccinium.
What habitat does Vaccinium ovatum grow in?
Vaccinium ovatum grows in Edges, clearings in conifer forest.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.