SPARKLEBERRY, FARKLEBERRY
Vaccinium arboreum
SKU: 1722-10
Description
Vaccinium arboreum (sparkleberry or farkleberry) is a species of Vaccinium native to the southeastern and south-central United States, from southern Virginia west to southeastern Nebraska, south to Florida and eastern Texas, and north to Illinois.
It is a shrub (rarely a small tree) growing to 3–5 m (7.5-12.5 feet) rarely 9 m) (22.5 feet) tall, with a diameter at breast height of up to 35 cm (14 inches). The leaves are evergreen in the south of the range, but deciduous further north where winters are colder.
Sparkleberry grows on sand dunes, hammocks, dry hillsides, meadows, and in rocky woods. It also grows on a variety of moist sites such as wet bottomlands and along creek banks.
The flowers are white, bell-shaped, and 3–4 mm (0.12-0.16 inches) in diameter. The fruit is a round dry berry about 6 mm (0.24 inches) in diameter, green at first, black when ripe, edible but bitter and tough. They are eaten by various wildlife.
Hardiness zones: 6-9
Seeds per pack: 10
Germination: Start these seeds right away to preserve viability, no matter the time of year. Soak the seeds for 24 hours before planting. Seeds require light for germination, and must be exposed to bright, indirect sunlight for at least six hours each day to sprout successfully. Sow the seeds on the surface of a sterile seed-start mix, and water in. Then cover them with plastic and place in a fridge for 90 days. Be sure they stay moist. After the cold-moist stratification period they are then brought back to room temperature (20-22 °C, 68-72 °F) for them to germinate. Seedlings will begin to emerge in a month and will continue to emerge for a long period thereafter.
Description
Vaccinium arboreum (sparkleberry or farkleberry) is a species of Vaccinium native to the southeastern and south-central United States, from southern Virginia west to southeastern Nebraska, south to Florida and eastern Texas, and north to Illinois.
It is a shrub (rarely a small tree) growing to 3–5 m (7.5-12.5 feet) rarely 9 m) (22.5 feet) tall, with a diameter at breast height of up to 35 cm (14 inches). The leaves are evergreen in the south of the range, but deciduous further north where winters are colder.
Sparkleberry grows on sand dunes, hammocks, dry hillsides, meadows, and in rocky woods. It also grows on a variety of moist sites such as wet bottomlands and along creek banks.
The flowers are white, bell-shaped, and 3–4 mm (0.12-0.16 inches) in diameter. The fruit is a round dry berry about 6 mm (0.24 inches) in diameter, green at first, black when ripe, edible but bitter and tough. They are eaten by various wildlife.
Hardiness zones: 6-9
Seeds per pack: 10
Germination: Start these seeds right away to preserve viability, no matter the time of year. Soak the seeds for 24 hours before planting. Seeds require light for germination, and must be exposed to bright, indirect sunlight for at least six hours each day to sprout successfully. Sow the seeds on the surface of a sterile seed-start mix, and water in. Then cover them with plastic and place in a fridge for 90 days. Be sure they stay moist. After the cold-moist stratification period they are then brought back to room temperature (20-22 °C, 68-72 °F) for them to germinate. Seedlings will begin to emerge in a month and will continue to emerge for a long period thereafter.
