When to plant huckleberries in Ellensburg, WA

Which huckleberry to grow

Evergreen huckleberry is the native that thrives in gardens west of the Cascades. It's a handsome shrub with glossy leaves, pink bell-shaped flowers in spring and small, dark, sweet-tart berries from late August into fall. Thunderbird is a compact selection for smaller spaces.

Red huckleberry grows wild in shady forests, often sprouting from old stumps and logs, and has bright red, tart berries in summer. The mountain huckleberries people pick in the Cascades grow at higher elevations and rarely do well in lowland gardens.

Planting like a forest floor

Huckleberries are relatives of blueberries and want the same conditions: acidic, well-drained soil full of organic matter. In the wild they grow in loose, needle-covered soil under conifers. Mix bark fines or compost into the planting area, and mulch with bark or fir needles to keep roots cool and moist.

They're slow to establish, so be patient. Water through the first two dry seasons, and feed lightly with fertilizer for acid-loving plants in spring. Heavy clay or alkaline soil is the main reason they stall.

Wildlife value

Evergreen huckleberry is a favorite with birds, which eat the berries well into winter, and the spring flowers feed native bees and hummingbirds. Its year-round foliage gives cover for small birds. It works well as an informal hedge or under tall trees in light shade, and it needs almost no pruning beyond the occasional shaping. If you share the berries, plant a few shrubs so there's enough for both you and the birds.