Vaccinium parvifolium
Red huckleberry, Red Huckleberry
(c) Alan Rockefeller, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Alan Rockefeller · licence
Family: Ericaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Vaccinium parvifolium (Red huckleberry) is a native California shrub in the Ericaceae family, recognized by bright red fruits and strongly angled green twigs.
Red huckleberry is a California native shrub found in coastal and northern California regions including the North Coast, Klamath Ranges, and northern Sierra Nevada Mountains in moist, shaded woodland at elevations of 3 to 1,400 meters. Flowering from May to June, this plant produces small green or pink flowers in the axils of its lowest leaves. Growing 1 to 4 meters tall with strongly angled green twigs and an erect form, it has a distinctive rhizomatous root system. Its deciduous leaves are thin and elliptic to ovate, 10 to 25 millimeters long, with slightly serrated edges and prominent veins that are softly hairy underneath. The fruit is a bright red berry approximately 6 to 10 millimeters in diameter, making it easily recognizable in woodland understories.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 8 sympatric species; key features are bright red fruits and strongly angled green twigs
Habitat and range
Habitat: Moist, shaded woodland
Elevation: 3-1400 m
California counties: San Mateo, Del Norte, Humboldt, Mendocino, Sonoma, Siskiyou, Tuolumne, Mariposa, Napa, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Placer, Nevada, Butte, Plumas, Yuba, Shasta, Trinity
Outside California: to southeastern Alaska
Bloom period
Vaccinium parvifolium blooms May-Jun.
Frequently asked questions
Is Vaccinium parvifolium native to California?
Yes. Vaccinium parvifolium is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Vaccinium parvifolium bloom?
Vaccinium parvifolium blooms May-Jun.
Where in California does Vaccinium parvifolium grow?
Vaccinium parvifolium occurs in San Mateo, Del Norte, Humboldt, Mendocino, Sonoma, Siskiyou, Tuolumne, Mariposa and other counties, at elevations of 3-1400 m.
What plant family does Vaccinium parvifolium belong to?
Vaccinium parvifolium is in the Ericaceae family, genus Vaccinium.
What habitat does Vaccinium parvifolium grow in?
Vaccinium parvifolium grows in Moist, shaded woodland.
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.