Deerberry (Vaccinium stamineum)

Vaccinium stamineum is known by the common names of Deerberry or Squaw Huckleberry. It is a short shrub, not much more than 2-3 feet high. This is another shrub that is easy to miss – I almost did. The small white flowers are about 1/4 inch in diameter; they hang below the branch and were partially hidden by the grayish-green leaves. Easy to miss if you’re not looking for them.

The plant – a plant in flower. You can see how easy how easy it is to overlook the plant and not see the flowers.

The leaves

The cluster of blooms (shot with flash)

The flower in profile

The flower from below

Vaccinium stamineum is native to the eastern United States and Canada. Its range extends from Ontario, New England, and states southeast of a line west to Kansas and south to Texas I found it along the trail just west of the campground (segment 7) and along the trail south of the Fishing Area (segment 13). I haven’t seen it in other locations but, since the shrub is low and the flowers are small, this plant would blend into its background.
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Distribution Map:
- United States Department of Agriculture Plants Database: Vaccinium stamineum
- University of North Carolina Herbarium: Vaccinium stamineum

Identification resources:
- Southeastern Flora: Deerberry (Vaccinium stamineum)
- Native & Naturalized Plants of the Carolinas and Georgia: Vaccinium stamineum
- Missouri Plants: Vaccinium stamineum

Related posts:
- 2010: Year Of The Wildflower