Carolina Nature

Trees, Shrubs, and Woody Vines of North Carolina

Deerberry (Vaccinium stamineum)

Plantae>Magnoliophyta>Magnoliopsida>Ericales>Ericaceae>Vaccinium stamineum L.

Deerberry (Vaccinium stamineum) flowers

Deerberry is one of our most common shrubs, common throughout North Carolina, and with several varieties that have not yet been completely sorted out.

The white flowers, produced from April to June, are campanulate (bell-shaped), more open than those of other blueberries. The stamens are prominent, as indicated by the name stamineum.

Crowder's Mountain State Park, Gaston Co., NC 4/16/2011.

Deerberry (Vaccinium stamineum) flowers

Crowder's Mountain State Park, Gaston Co., NC 4/16/2011.

Deerberry (Vaccinium stamineum) leaves

Like other blueberries, the leaves are undistinguished - alternate, simple, and untoothed. This is a variable species — a number of varieties have been named and more are yet to be named.

Hanging Rock State Park, Stokes Co., NC 6/14/09.

Deerberry (Vaccinium stamineum) leaves

Leaf undersides are glaucous in two of the varieties of Deerberry: var. caesium of the Coastal Plain and this unnamed variety of the Mountains and Piedmont. The other varieties have green undersides.

Stokes Co., NC 6/14/09.

Deerberry (Vaccinium stamineum) fruit

The fruits are green when ripe, not black or blue, and not tasty — suitable only for deer to eat, hence the name.

Stokes Co., NC 6/14/09.

Deerberry (Vaccinium stamineum) berries

The berries are slighty glaucous.

Stokes Co., NC 6/14/09.

Deerberry (Vaccinium stamineum) leaves

Orange Co., NC 7/7/2003.

Deerberry (Vaccinium stamineum) leaves

This Deerberry in the southern Appalachian Mountains it quite different, with very hairy leaves and stems. This may be Vaccinium stamineum var. sericeum (C. Mohr) D.B. Ward, Southern Deerberry.

Alleghany Co., NC 5/27/07.

Deerberry (Vaccinium stamineum) flowers

Alleghany Co., NC 5/27/07.

Deerberry (Vaccinium stamineum) flowers

Alleghany Co., NC 5/27/07.

Deerberry (Vaccinium stamineum) flowers

Alleghany Co., NC 5/27/07.

Deerberry (Vaccinium stamineum) flowers

Alleghany Co., NC 5/27/07.

Deerberry (Vaccinium stamineum) flowers

Durham Co., NC 5/2/03.

Deerberry (Vaccinium stamineum) fruit

Orange Co., NC 7/7/2003.

Deerberry (Vaccinium stamineum) fruit

Carroll Co., VA 7/3/06.

Deerberry (Vaccinium stamineum) leaves

Clay Co., NC 5/13/06.

Deerberry (Vaccinium stamineum) flowers

Emerging flowers.

Clay Co., NC 5/13/06.

Deerberry (Vaccinium stamineum) bark

Bark detail.

Clay Co., NC 5/13/06.

Deerberry (Vaccinium stamineum) bark

Crowder's Mountain State Park, Gaston Co., NC 4/16/2011.

More information:
Florida Forest Plants
USDA PLANTS
Virginia Tech Dendrology

Recommended Tree, Shrub, and Woody Vine Identification Guides