Huckleberry

Lore & Background

The name 'huckleberry' is a North American variation of the English dialectal name 'hurtleberry' or 'whortleberry' for the bilberry. In North America, it was applied to numerous plant variations, all bearing small berries with colors that may be red, blue, or black. It is the common name for various Gaylussacia species, and some Vaccinium species, such as Vaccinium parvifolium, the red huckleberry, and is also applied to other Vaccinium species that may also be called blueberries depending upon local custom, as in New England and parts of Appalachia. Four species of huckleberries in the genus Gaylussacia are common in eastern North America, especially G. baccata, also known as the black huckleberry. From coastal Central California through Oregon to southern Washington and British Columbia, the red huckleberry (V. parvifolium) is found in the maritime-influenced plant community. The plant grows best in damp, acidic soil having volcanic origin, attaining under optimal conditions heights of 1.5 to 2 m, usually ripening in mid-to-late summer or later at high elevations.

Reader's Guide

Huckleberries hold a place in archaic American English slang. The phrase, 'I'm your huckleberry', is a way of expressing either affection or that one is just the right person for a given role. The range of slang meanings of huckleberry in the 19th century was broad, also referring to significant or nice persons. The huckleberry is the state fruit of both Idaho and Montana. Huckleberries were traditionally collected by Native American and First Nations people along the Pacific coast, interior British Columbia, Idaho, and Montana for use as food or traditional medicine. Attempts to cultivate certain species of huckleberry plants from seeds have failed, with plants devoid of fruits, possibly due to inability to replicate native soil chemistry.

Did You Know?

• Two huckleberry species, V. membranaceum and V. ovatum, were studied for phytochemical content, showing that V. ovatum had greater total polyphenol and anthocyanin content than did V. membranaceum.
• The 'garden huckleberry' (Solanum scabrum) is not a true huckleberry, but is instead a member of the nightshade family.
• The huckleberry is the state fruit of Idaho.