People often say that you can't grow huckleberries domestically or that “no one has figured out a way to propagate them outside of their native habitat.” This is one of those things people hear, but it has no bearing on reality—we’ve been growing huckleberries for several years.

What They Need to Thrive

There are certain things that must be kept in mind. Firstly, like their blueberry cousins, they don’t like alkaline soil. Secondly, they have mycelium (soil fungi) dependencies, and when these aren’t met, they suffer. They also don’t like direct sunlight.

Growing Tips

The key is to:

• Amend the soil with some forest duff layer from where huckleberries naturally thrive (see photo—note the moss, etc. in the pot we grow them in),

• Periodically add elemental sulfur,

• And avoid exposing them to direct sunlight.

Cold-Hardy and Thriving

Hardy to Zone 2 (-40°F or more).

Current Plant Size

These huckleberries are large and bushy (1–2 ft.) and are going on their third year.