Cherry Prinsepia vs Mountain Huckleberry - TreeTime.ca

Cherry Prinsepia vs Mountain Huckleberry

Prinsepia sinensis

Vaccinium membranaceum

CUSTOM GROW

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

Cherry Prinsepia
Mountain Huckleberry

Cherry Prinsepia is an attractive, cold hardy shrub with thorny stems and a rounded shape.

Primarily used for its shrub and hedge characteristics, Cherry Prinsepia is also grown for its ornamental fruit. Tart in flavor, the red berries are edible and enjoyed by birds and humans alike.

If deer are an issue on your property, try planting Cherry Prinsepia in a tight row to create a dense hedge to deter them.

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.

Cherry Prinsepia Quick Facts

Mountain Huckleberry Quick Facts

Zone: 3b
Zone: 5a
Height: 1.8 m (6 ft)
Height: 0.6 m (2.0 ft)
Spread: 1.8 m (6 ft)
Spread: 0.6 m (2.0 ft)
Light: full sun
Light: full sun
Moisture: normal
Moisture: any
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: medium
Life span: medium
Life span: short
Suckering: none
Suckering: high


Flowers: yellow-white
Fruit: showy, red cherries
Berries: dark purple
Flavor: sweet, acidic
Harvest: mid to late summer
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Native to: AB, BC, ON, YT, NT
Other Names: big huckleberry, black huckleberry, tall bilberry, thinleaf huckleberry