Georgia Wildlife Federation

Resources < Wildlife Habitats < Guide to Native Plants of Georgia for Wildlife < Vaccinium arboreum

Picture your favorite Blueberry bush. Now imagine it as a forked, graceful tree towering 15-20 feet higher with small black berries dotting its canopy. That plant would be Sparkleberry, an excellent understory tree for the native landscape. It is closely related to our native Blueberries. With native edible landscapes becoming all the rage throughout the US and especially in the South, it makes a spectacular companion plant to a blueberry patch.

Seeing a woodland grove of these trees together is truly mesmerizing with the visual effect of their unusually colored flaking bark. It varies from reddish orange to greenish gray, and sheds off in flakes. The sight of tens of trunks all snaking upward toward the forest canopy in dappled shade is spectacular. Sparkleberry is remarkably drought tolerant, takes little care, and conserves water.

Family: Ericaceae (Heath)

Description: Sparkleberry is a multi-trunked understory tree whose most telling feature is its unusual bark. It is a reddish-orange to green-gray in color and flakes off the trunk like a Eucalyptus. Leaves are 1/2-2”, stiff and glossy. Flowers are ½” long, white and bell-shaped, appearing in spring after the leaves expand. Berries are gritty and non-juicy, appearing in October and lasting through the winter. Fall color is an astounding deep reddish-purple.

Size: 20-30 feet in height and 10 inches in diameter

Habit: A small, multi-trunked tree which looks shrubby when young and graceful when mature. It is characterized by a short, crooked bole, contorted branches, and dense rounded head.

Light: As an understory tree, Sparkleberry prefers partial shade but is tolerant of full sun as well as full shade.

Planting and Care: Sparkleberry is unique among its blueberry relatives in that it tolerates much more alkaline soil and therefore is an excellent choice for those not wishing to modify their soil pH. It also is indifferent to soil moisture and extremely drought tolerant, especially if well mulched, but prefers richness and partial shade. . It can be thicket-forming.

Ornamental Value: The top asset is the unusual form, bark color, and flakiness. Flowers are profuse with ample sunlight. Fall color is especially standout. Berries are attractive and edible.

Landscape UsE: Sparkleberry makes an excellent companion plant with blueberries, under native fruit trees, or alongside plants like Sourwood, Blackgum, Sassafras, Longleaf Pine, and Live Oak. It makes an excellent addition to the xeriscape, being tolerant of drought.

Wildlife Benefits: Larval host plant for Henry’s Elfin Butterfly. Fruits are eaten by the Bluebird, Catbird, Yellow-Breasted Chat, Yellow-Shafted Flicker, Flycatcher, Kingbird, Oriole, Phoebe, Bachman’s Sparrow, Thrasher, Hermit Thrush, and Tufted Titmouse. The tree is an important food source for avian life during the winter. Small woodland mammals also feed on the berries.

Native Habitat: Sparkleberry favors sandhills, scrub, dunes, coastal hammocks, and Post Oak woodlands. It is an understory species.