Carolina Nature

Trees, Shrubs, and Woody Vines of North Carolina

Sparkleberry (Vaccinium arboreum)

Plantae>Magnoliophyta>Magnoliopsida>Ericales>Ericaceae>Vaccinium arboreum Marshall

Sparkleberry (Vaccinium arboreum)

Sparkleberry, or Farkleberry, is an uncommon large shrub or small tree of woodland edges. It's the largest of our blueberries, though Black Highbush Blueberry (Vaccinium fuscatum) can get almost as big.

The small, thick, lustrous, smooth, mostly-evergreen leaves with tiny red buds make sparkleberry fairly easy to ID.

Wake Co., NC 5/23/2009.

Sparkleberry (Vaccinium arboreum)

Small bell-shaped flowers appear in mid-May, followed by small black berries in fall.

Wake Co., NC 5/23/2009.

Sparkleberry (Vaccinium arboreum)

Wake Co., NC 5/23/2009.

Sparkleberry (Vaccinium arboreum)

Wake Co., NC 5/23/2009.

Sparkleberry (Vaccinium arboreum)

Wake Co., NC 5/23/2009.

Sparkleberry (Vaccinium arboreum)

Wake Co., NC 5/23/2009.

Sparkleberry (Vaccinium arboreum)

Jasper Co., SC.

Sparkleberry (Vaccinium arboreum)

Jasper Co., SC.

Sparkleberry (Vaccinium arboreum)

Bladen Co., NC 10/19/2008.

Sparkleberry (Vaccinium arboreum)

The small berries are shiny and black when ripe.

Bladen Co., NC 10/19/2008.

Sparkleberry (Vaccinium arboreum)

Some leaves stay green throughout the winter.

Chatham Co., NC 1/4/2004.

Sparkleberry (Vaccinium arboreum)

The bark of some larger specimens can be nearly smooth.

Chatham Co., NC 1/4/2004.

Sparkleberry (Vaccinium arboreum)

Wake Co., NC 6/4/2005.

Sparkleberry (Vaccinium arboreum)

Wake Co., NC 5/23/2009.

Sparkleberry (Vaccinium arboreum)

The bark may break up into peeling flakes.

Jasper Co., SC.

 

More information:
NC State
Trees of Alabama and the Southeast
Virginia Tech Dendrology

Recommended Tree, Shrub, and Woody Vine Identification Guides