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Buttonbush vs Mountain Huckleberry
Cephalanthus occidentalis
Vaccinium membranaceum
ONLY AVAILABLE BY CONTRACT GROW
NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON
(new stock expected: fall of 2026)
Buttonbush is a moisture loving shrub that provides year round interest.
It has round, fragrant flowers resembling small buttons or pincushions. The flowers transform into small reddish-brown fruit that persists into winter while the leaves take on shades of red in fall.
Providing essential food to bees, butterflies, and other insects, this shrub is versatile. Try it in your next shrub border.
Mountain Huckleberry is a small shrub known for its tart to sweet berries. The berries range from purple-black to red-black, and can be eaten fresh or used in jams and syrups. It is a plant native to Alberta and the berries are frequently enjoyed by both people and wildlife.
In traditional Indigenous fire management practices, berry patches were burned after harvest. This would reduce the invasion of other plants allowing the Mountain Huckleberry to thrive. Its foliage has low flammability and can survive low severity fires, and even if destroyed they regrow from the roots.
Note: Mountain Huckleberry requires specific soil conditions. They need moist, well-drained, acidic soil with a pH around 5.5.