Introducing Vaccinium membranaceum, the "Big Huckleberry" or "Thinleaf Huckleberry." This species is part of the Vaccinium group of huckleberries and is native to western North America, with a range extending across the continent from southern Alaska to Northern California and Utah. It grows at higher elevations in subalpine and alpine environments, in both pine and spruce-dominated forests, and in open meadow ecosystems. The leaves and stems of the huckleberry are resistant to low-intensity fires, making it fire-adapted. This species produces a legendary amount of fruit, with shrubs often weighed down to the ground by large, abundant berries, and is a significant food source for wildlife, including black and grizzly bears, elk, moose, and white-tailed deer. Not only is the fruit of great commercial importance, but it has been widely used for food by Native Americans for thousands of years. The plant is an important cultural food and is actively managed by Native American groups throughout the Pacific Northwest. Try the delicious and nutritious Big Huckleberry today! More information can be found at http://plants.usda.gov.
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