Box Huckleberry

‘Bud break’

Vaccinium ovatum

Ericaceae · broadleaf evergreen shrub · native

Last updated

Evergreen huckleberry is a native broadleaf evergreen reaching 5 ft with multiple stems and erect form. It produces white flowers and purple berries. It is restricted to the western Pacific Coast and is the only evergreen huckleberry species.

Evergreen huckleberry is hardy in zones 7a-8b and prefers part shade with well-drained, acidic soil (pH 5.5-7.5). Growth is slow with moderate moisture needs; mature plants tolerate drought well. It is notably long-lived and useful for hedging, supporting a stable landscape structure for decades.

Plant Profile

Size & Form

Height
5 ft
Growth Rate
Slow
Size at 20 yr
8 ft
Lifespan
Long-lived

Site Requirements

Light
Part Shade
Soil Drainage
Well Drained
Soil pH
5.5-7.5
Water
Moderate
Drought Tolerance
Medium
Hardiness
Zones 7a–8b

Ornamental Interest

Bloom Time
april to may
Origin
Pacific Northwest native

Field Observations

Evergreen Huckleberry bloom
Evergreen Huckleberry: Bloom
April 9, 2026 · Issaquah
Watch for this season
RustHigh

Uredinial Stage (Summer)

Verticillium WiltHigh

Root Colonization Period

Armillaria Root RotModerate

Active Below-ground Growth

Bacterial CankerModerate

Dead Bud and Summer Dieback

+ 2 more — see full disease and pest lists below

Diseases: Regionally Documented (41)

Alternaria spp Alternaria Fruit Rot Armillaria spp. — primarily A Armillaria Root Rot Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae Bacterial Canker Botrytis Blight Chemical Injury Rhizobium radiobacter (formerly Agrobacterium tumefaciens) Crown Gall Godronia cassandrae Fusicoccum Canker (Godronia Canker) Incorrect soil pH Monilinia vaccinii-corymbosi Mummy Berry Xiphinema americanum and related species Nematode, Dagger Pratylenchus penetrans (primary) and P Nematode, Root-lesion Paratrichodorus renifer Nematode, Stubby-root Colletotrichum spp. Ripe Rot (Anthracnose) Symptom category — not a single disease Root Rot Multiple genera (Melampsoridium, Thekopsora, Naohidemyces... Rust Blueberry scorch virus (BlScV) Scorch Blueberry shock virus (BlShV) Shock Chondrostereum purpureum Silver Leaf Botryosphaeria corticis Stem Canker Multiple fungal species cause twig blight on different ho... Twig Blight Sporocadus lichenicola Twig Canker Verticillium dahliae Verticillium Wilt Blueberry mosaic virus and related viruses Virus Diseases Gymnosporangium spp. [VERIFY: hosts inconsistent with G Witches' Broom Rust Botryosphaeria spp. Botryosphaeria Fruit Rot and Berry Speckle Abiotic (symptom) Cottonball Phyllosticta cotoneastri (primary); Entomosporium maculat... Early Leaf Spot Cranberry false blossom virus False Blossom Phytophthora cactorum Fruit Rot Various plant-parasitic nematode genera Nematodes Phytophthora Root and Runner Rot Pyrenobotrys compacta Pyrenobotrys Leaf Spot Phyllosticta cotoneastri Red Leaf Spot Phytophthora spp. or environmental Red Shoot Rose Bloom Diaporthe vaccinii (asexual: Phomopsis vaccinii) Upright Dieback Raspberry bushy dwarf virus and related viruses Virus Abiotic or fungal Leaf Gall Symptom category — not a single disease Leaf Spot Ramorum Blight (Sudden Oak Death) [AUDIT NOTE] This is a malformed bulk-import artifact, no... Diseases

Phenological Calendar

As of June 3, 2026, Puget Sound stations range from 2435.5 to 2672.8 GDD₃₂. Box Huckleberry has passed ‘bud break’ (1333 GDD₃₂).

Regional Season Tracker

GDD₃₂ accumulation across 7 Puget Sound stations · as of Jun 3, 2026
Station GDD₃₂ Current Stage Next To Go
Issaquah / East King 2,673 ‘Bud break’ — —
Kent / Auburn 2,665 ‘Bud break’ — —
Seattle / UW 2,610 ‘Bud break’ — —
Olympia / Tumwater 2,570 ‘Bud break’ — —
Tacoma / Puyallup 2,535 ‘Bud break’ — —
Bellingham / Whatcom 2,533 ‘Bud break’ — —
Sequim / Rain Shadow 2,436 ‘Bud break’ — —
View full calendar (3 stages)
Stage GDD32 Typical Window
'Flower buds visible' BBCH '51' 680 ''
'Bloom' BBCH '61-65' 1010 Observed ''
● ‘Bud break’ BBCH '07' NOW 1333 ''

Sources: 'NPN citizen science observations (WA+OR), n=16, median. services.usanpn.org' ; 'Field observation, Issaquah, WA' About GDD₃₂ →

Season tracker for Kent / Auburn as of Jun 3, 2026. Predicted dates use 16-day weather forecast through Jun 19, 2026, then climate normals.

Cultivars (2)
'Scarlet Ovation'
'Thunderbird'
Data Maturity
Structured Multiple sources. Expert review underway.