Vaccinium stamineum
deerberry
Overview
Vaccinium stamineum is a deciduous shrub in the heath family, growing 2-10 feet (0.6-3 m) tall with an open, often loosely branched form and a tendency to spread by suckers into colonies. The elliptic leaves are 1-4 inches (2.5-10 cm) long, dull green above and pale, sometimes whitish beneath, turning red to purple in fall. Unlike most blueberries, the spring flowers open into wide bells rather than narrow urns, white to greenish or pink-tinged, with yellow stamens protruding well beyond the petals; they hang in leafy clusters along the branches. The berries that follow are round, 0.3-0.5 inch (8-12 mm), and ripen green, yellow-green, or purple in late summer and fall. Though edible, the fruit is variable in flavor, often sour or insipid, and is eaten more readily by birds and mammals than by people. Vaccinium stamineum grows in dry, open woodland and sandy clearings across the eastern and central United States, on acidic, well-drained soils. It tolerates drought and poor ground once established but requires acidic soil and is intolerant of wet, heavy clay. The loose habit and small fruit make it more of a wildlife and naturalizing shrub than a fruit crop.
Native Range
Vaccinium stamineum is native to the eastern and central United States, from southern New England and Ontario south to Florida and west to Texas. It grows in dry, open oak and pine woodland, on ridges, and in sandy or rocky clearings with acidic soil.Suggested Uses
Vaccinium stamineum is used in native and woodland gardens, wildlife plantings, and naturalized borders on acidic soil. Its flowers draw native bees, and the berries feed birds and small mammals.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height2' - 10'
Width/Spread3' - 6'
Bloom Information
Flowering occurs from April to June, depending on latitude, as the new leaves expand. The pendant bell flowers last 2 to 3 weeks and give way to berries that ripen from August into October. Bloom is heaviest on plants in more open sun.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
white to greenish, pink-tingedFoliage Description
dull green, pale beneathGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 4-8 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Grow Vaccinium stamineum in full sun to part shade in acidic, well-drained soil with a pH of about 4.5 to 6.0. It tolerates dry, sandy, and rocky ground and needs little water once established, but it is intolerant of wet clay and alkaline soil. A mulch of pine needles or leaf litter keeps the shallow roots cool and maintains acidity. Plants sucker slowly into loose colonies and need room to spread. Fruiting and fall color both increase with more direct sun.Pruning
Prune in late winter while dormant, removing weak, crowded, or dead stems to open the shrub. Older colonies can be renewed by cutting the oldest canes to the ground over several years. Little routine pruning is otherwise needed.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
winter