Vaccinium scoparium
Little-leaved huckleberry, Little-Leaved Huckleberry
(c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman · licence
Family: Ericaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 2B.2
Vaccinium scoparium (Little-leaved huckleberry) is a native California shrub in the Ericaceae family, recognized by smallest leaves and fruits, strongly angled green twigs.
Little-leaved huckleberry is a California native shrub found in the Klamath Ranges in rocky subalpine woodland at elevations of 1,800 to 2,200 meters. Flowering from June to July, this plant produces pink, urn-shaped flowers less than 4 millimeters long in the axils of its lowest leaves. Growing with strongly angled green stems less than 5 decimeters tall that root and spread, it forms a brushy, glabrous structure with a rhizomatous base. Its deciduous leaves are small, 8 to 15 millimeters long, ovate to elliptic with serrated edges and smooth undersides. The fruit is a bright red berry 3 to 6 millimeters in diameter.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 8 sympatric species; key features are smallest leaves and fruits, strongly angled green twigs
Habitat and range
Habitat: Rocky subalpine woodland
Elevation: 1800-2200 m
California counties: Siskiyou, Placer, Del Norte, Humboldt, Trinity
Outside California: to western Canada, South Dakota, Utah
Bloom period
Vaccinium scoparium blooms Jun-Jul.
Conservation status
CNPS 2B.2
Frequently asked questions
Is Vaccinium scoparium native to California?
Yes. Vaccinium scoparium is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Vaccinium scoparium bloom?
Vaccinium scoparium blooms Jun-Jul.
Where in California does Vaccinium scoparium grow?
Vaccinium scoparium occurs in Siskiyou, Placer, Del Norte, Humboldt, Trinity, at elevations of 1800-2200 m.
What plant family does Vaccinium scoparium belong to?
Vaccinium scoparium is in the Ericaceae family, genus Vaccinium.
Is Vaccinium scoparium rare or endangered?
Vaccinium scoparium carries California Rare Plant Rank 2B.2, state rank S3.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
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.