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Sparkleberry
Sparkleberry botanical plate
Field guide plate · click to zoom

Sparkleberry

Vaccinium arboreum

Honey bees forage on sparkleberry for nectar and pollen during its late spring bloom, providing an early-season resource in its native range. Peak bloom occurs in May for about three weeks, supporting colony buildup without producing significant surplus honey. This native shrub thrives in acidic, well-drained soils and is not invasive, though its dry fruits may attract birds over bees.

Nectarmedium
Pollenmedium
BloomApril–June
USDA zones6-9
TypePerennial
Sunpartial
NativeSoutheastern United States
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