sparkleberry
Vaccinium arboreum
USDA zones7 to 9
SunHandles full sun to partial shade
WaterHandles dry to moist soil
Size8 to 15 feet tall4 to 10 feet wide
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Habit
- Tree
- Bloom season
- Spring, summer, autumn
- Bloom color
- White
- Foliage color
- Dark green
- Soil types
- Sand, loam
- Soil pH
- Acid, neutral
Garden uses
Attracts
Notes
Sparkleberry (Vaccinium arboreum) is a shrub for specimen planting, borders, rain gardens, and winter interest. It is hardy to USDA zone 7, or down to 0°F (-18°C). This plant likes full sun to part shade and dry to moist, sandy or loamy soil. Fragrant white flowers look like tiny bells and are followed by shiny black berries that feed birds. The dark green leaves turn deep red in fall. It sits low on the menu for deer.
Pairs well with Longleaf pine, American persimmon, Possumhaw, and Flameleaf sumac.
Native range
AL, AR, FL, GA, and 13 more places. See all 17
AL, AR, FL, GA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MO, MS, NC, OK, SC, TN, TX, and VA.