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NC Native Plant Society:
Plant Details

Vaccinium stamineum var. stamineum

Deerberry, Common Deerberry

Scientific Name:

Vaccinium stamineum var. stamineum

Genus:

Vaccinium

Species Epithet:

stamineum

Common Name:

Deerberry, Common Deerberry

Plant Type

Shrub

Life Cycle

Perennial

Plant Family

Ericaceae (Heath Family)

Native/Alien:

NC Native

Size:

0-1 ft., 1-3 ft., 3-6 ft., 6-12 ft.

Bloom Color(s):

White, Pink, Green

Soil Moisture:

Dry, Moist

Bloom Time:

April, May, June

Growing Area:

Mountains, Piedmont, Sandhills, Coastal Plain

Habitat Description:

Xeric to submesic woodlands, forests, and rock outcrops (unlike most Vaccinium, often on mafic, ultramafic, or calcareous rocks).

Leaf Arrangement:

Alternate

Leaf Retention:

Deciduous

Leaf Type:

Leaves veined, not needle-like or scale-like

Leaf Form:

Simple

Life Cycle:

Perennial

Wildlife Value:

Highest Wildlife Value

Landscape Value:

Highly Recommended and Available

State Rank:

S5: Secure, S?: Uncertain (*Key)

Global Rank:

G_T_: Subspecies or Variety Rank (add status to NOTES section) (*Key)

Notes:

Global Rank: G5TNR

NC State Extension "this plant in moderately resistant to damage from deer. It is a host plant for the Brown Elfin butterfly. Adult butterflies nectar from the blooms. Its fruits are eaten by songbirds, small mammals, ruffed grouse, wild turkeys and black bears.

Weakley lists 5 varieties of Vaccinium stamineum in NC.

Members of the genus Vaccinium support the following specialized bees: Andrena (Conandrena) bradleyi, Andrena (Andrena) carolina, Panurginus atramontensis, Habropoda laboriosa, Colletes productus, Colletes validus, and Osmia (Melanosmia) virga."

Deerberry in flower

Deerberry is variable in leaf, size and berry color and has many varieties, including a dwarf variety in Coastal pinelands. Common throughout the state.

image

Paynter, Wilmington, late April, 2010

Flowers from above

image

Jorge Vigueras

Close-up of flowers showing stamens

Deerberry has an open bell-shape flower with the stamens showing prominently. Thus the species name, 'stamineum'.

image

Paynter, Wilmington, April 2010

Links:

USDA PLANTS Database Record

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Flora of North America
NC State Extension
 



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