Plant Data Sheet
Alaskan Blueberry, Vaccinium alaskaense
Range
Common in the Cascades and coastal mountains from
Climate, elevation
Occurs from low to subalpine elevations. Often in moister sites.
Local occurrence
Often one of the dominant shrubs in
Alaskan and BC coastal forests, often growing together with Vaccinium ovalifolium.
Habitat preferences
Moist coniferous forests and forest
openings.
Plant strategy type/successional stage
Vaccinium alaskaense
can tolerate shade and can be found in late successional
undisturbed forests.
Associated species
Thuja plicata, Tsuga
heterophylla, Tsuga mertensiana, Abies amabilis, Xanthocyparis nootkatensis,
Polystichum munitum, Vaccinium ovalifolium, Ledum glandulosum, Oxalis oregano,
Oplolanax horridus.
May be collected as:
Seed
Collection restrictions or
guidelines
Berries ripen in mid to late summer.
Seed germination
No information, however for Vaccinium ovalifolium (oval leaf huckleberry)(commonly associated species that hybridizes with V. alaskaense), “Seeds of ovalleaf huckleberry have a short dormant period and exhibit good germination when exposured to 15 days of warm temperatures followed by 15 days of chilling. Properly stored seeds exhibit good germination under a regime of 14 hours of light at 82 degrees F (28 degrees C) followed by 10 hours of darkness at temperatures averaging 55 degrees F (13 degrees C). Fresh seeds also germinate successfully under these conditions, or when alternately exposed to temperatures of 71 degrees F (22 degrees C) and 41 degrees F (5 degrees C). Huckleberry seedlings first emerge in approximately 1 month and continue to emerge for long periods of time in the absence of cold stratification. Ovalleaf huckleberry exhibits 50 to 60percent germination under favorable conditions and up to 93 percent germination has been observed under optimal laboratory conditions.” (http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/shrub/vacovl)
Seed life
Shelf life of up to 12 years.
Recommended seed storage
conditions
Not found
Propagation recommendations
Seed
Soil or medium requirements
Most huckleberries (Vaccinium spp.) require acidic conditions andcan grow on infertile soils which have relatively small amounts of many
essential elements.
Installation form
Seeds would be cheapest, germination rates are high and
annual growth rate in good conditions is up to 10 inches per year. However for a 1 gallon :
$6. (source 5)
Recommended planting density
Not found
Care requirements after
installed
Keep soil moist, pH low.
Normal rate of growth or
spread; lifespan
In good conditions annual growth can be up to 10 inches per
year, lifespan not found.
Sources cited
1. http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/shrub/vacovl/
2. Hitchcock, C.
Leo; Cronquist, Arthur. Flora of the
3. MacKinnon, Andy; Pojar, Jim. Plants of the
4. http://www.fs.fed.us/gpnf/forest-research/ei/special/species/shrubs/vaal.html
5. http://members.shaw.ca/nativeplants/streamside_inventory.html
Christer Lundstrom