Small Black Blueberry

Vaccinium tenellum

Found in longleaf pine sandhills, pine flatwoods, Piedmont hardpan woodlands, other dry woodlands. FloraQuest, phone app (app page) What its natural habitat tells you

Keystone

Native to Alabama. How scores work Is it native here?

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Height: Up to about 2.5 feet
Light: Full sun, Partial shade
Soil moisture: Somewhat dry to moist

Will it fit your yard?

Vaccinium tenellum — flower photograph — no rights reserved · CC0 · Original photograph

At a glance

Life cycle: Woody perennial
Leaves: Deciduous
Bloom: Spring
Fruiting season: June to July

Not yet recorded · Spread

Recorded in 7 Alabama counties.

Natural habitats

Places it grows wild. Not a planting requirement. Each habitat page lists the plants and wildlife also found there.

1 of 4

Named place / source context. Shown: Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park, Georgia, a neighboring state.Trail on Little Kennesaw Mountain., Unidentified in HFC record, undated. Public domain. Source record.

Sandhills

Dry, deep-sand ridges with longleaf pine and turkey oak, kept open by fire.

Pine flatwoods

Flat, sandy Coastal Plain pine woodlands, wetter than sandhills and denser than savannas.

Dry forests and woodlands

Forests and open woodlands on dry ridges and slopes, often oak or pine.

All habitats

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

172CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including AL

Genus host records with ranges including AL · Vaccinium

Abagrotis alternataGreater Red Dart, Mottled Grey Cutworm
Acharia stimuleaSaddleback Caterpillar Moth
Achatia distinctaDistinct Quaker
Acleris curvalanaBlueberry Leaftier Moth
Acleris maculidorsanaStained-Back Leafroller Moth
Acrobasis vacciniiCranberry Fruitworm
Acronicta americanaAmerican Dagger
Acronicta funeralisFunerary Dagger, Paddle Caterpillar
Acronicta impletaYellow-Haired Dagger
Acronicta noctivagaNight-Wandering Dagger, Burglar Dagger

Show all 172

Acronicta tritonaGray Dagger, Triton Dagger
Agrotis ipsilonIpsilon Dart, Black Cutworm, Greasy Cutworm
Alsophila pometariaFall Cankerworm Moth
Amorbia humerosanaWhite-Lined Leafroller Moth
Amphipyra pyramidoidesMiranda Underwing, Copper Underwing, Copper Amphipyra
Anagrapha falciferaCelery Looper Moth
Anania tertialisCrowned Anania, Crowned Phlyctaenia
Anavitrinella pampinariaCommon Gray, Cranberry Spanworm
Ancylis muricanaRed-Headed Ancylis
Antaeotricha leucillanaWell-Marked Leaf Tier, Pale Gray Bird-Dropping Moth
Antheraea polyphemusPolyphemus Moth
Archips argyrospilaFruit-Tree Leafroller Moth
Archips georgianaFireworm, Georgia Leafroller
Archips purpuranaOmnivorous Leafroller Moth
Argyrotaenia marianaGray-Banded Leafroller Moth
Argyrotaenia velutinanaRed-Banded Leafroller Moth, Jack Pine Tube Moth
Aroga trialbamaculellaRed-Striped Fireworm Moth
Biston betulariaSalt-and-Pepper Geometer, Cleft-Headed Looper
Cabera erythemariaYellow-Dusted Cream Moth
Caenurgina erechteaClover Looper Moth, Common Grass Moth, Forage Looper
Callophrys augustinusThe Brown Elfin
Callophrys henriciHenry's Elfin
Caloptilia belfragellaDogwood Caloptilia
Catocala andromedaeAndromeda Underwing
Catocala gracilisGraceful Underwing
Catocala louiseaeLouise's Underwing
Catocala sordidaSordid Underwing
Cecrita guttivittaMaple Prominent, Saddled Prominent
Cenopis diluticostanaSpring Dead-Leaf Roller Moth, Oak Cenopis
Cenopis directanaChokecherry Leafroller Moth
Cenopis pettitanaMaple-Basswood Leafroller Moth
Cenopis reticulatanaReticulated Fruitworm Moth
Cerastis tenebriferaReddish Speckled Dart
Chaetaglaea sericeaSilky Sallow
Chloropteryx tepperariaAngled-Winged Emerald
Choristoneura rosaceanaOblique-Banded Leafroller Moth, Rosaceous Leaf Roller
Coelodasys apicalisPlain Schizura
Coelodasys unicornisUnicorn Caterpillar Moth
Crocigrapha normaniNorman's Quaker
Cyclophora pendulinariaSweetfern Geometer
Darapsa choerilusAzalea Sphinx
Dasychira basiflavaYellow-Based Tussock Moth
Dasychira obliquataStreaked Tussock Moth
Datana drexeliiDrexel's Datana
Datana majorMajor Datana, Azalea Caterpillar
Datana ministraYellow-Necked Caterpillar Moth
Datana ranaecepsPost-Burn Datana
Dichomeris ligulellaPalmerworm
Drasteria graphicaGraphic Moth, Coastal Graphic
Ectropis crepusculariaThe Small Engrailed, Saddleback Looper
Egira alternansAlternate Woodling
Elaphria grataGrateful Midget
Emmelina monodactylaMorning-Glory Plume Moth
Epiglaea apiataRound-Loaf Sallow, Cranberry Sallow, Pointed Sallow Moth
Erannis tiliariaLinden Looper Moth, Western Winter Moth, Lime Looper
Estigmene acreaSalt Marsh Moth, Acrea Moth
Eubaphe mendicaThe Beggar
Euchlaena johnsonariaJohnson's Euchlaena
Euchlaena madusariaScrub Euchlaena
Euchlaena serrataThe Saw-Wing
Eucirroedia pampinaScalloped Sallow
Euclea delphiniiSpiny Oak-Slug Moth
Eulithis diversilineataLesser Grapevine Looper Moth
Eupithecia miserulataCommon Eupithacia, Common Pug
Eutrapela clematariaCurved-Tooth Geometer, Purplish Brown Looper
Euxoa detersaRubbed Dart, Sandhill Cutworm
Feltia jaculiferaDingy Cutworm
Glena cognatariaBlueberry Gray
Glena cribratariaDotted Gray
Grapholita packardiCherry Fruit Worm
Halysidota tessellarisBanded Tussock Moth, Pale Tiger Moth
Harrisimemna trisignataHarris's Three-Spot
Hemaris diffinisSnowberry Clearwing
Hemaris gracilisSlender Clearwing
Hyalophora cecropiaCecropia Silkmoth, Cecropia Moth
Hypagyrtis unipunctataOne-Spotted Variant
Hyphantria cuneaFall Webworm
Iridopsis ephyrariaPale-Winged Gray
Iridopsis humariaSmall Purplish Gray
Kocakina fidelisIntractable Quaker, Green Fruitworm, Fourlined Green Fruitworm
Lambdina fiscellariaHemlock Looper, Western Oak Looper
Limenitis archippusViceroy
Limenitis arthemisBanded Purple, Red-Spotted Admiral
Lithacodes fasciolaYellow-Shouldered Slug
Lithophane antennataAshen Pinion
Lithophane bethuneiBethune's Pinion
Lithophane patefactaDiomorphic Pinion, Branded Pinion
Lithophane petulcaWanton Pinion
Lithophane viridipallensPale Green Pinion
Machimia tentoriferellaGold-Striped Leaftier Moth
Macrochilo orciferalisStreaked Fan-Foot, Bronzy Macrochilo
Malacosoma americanaEastern Tent Caterpillar
Malacosoma disstriaForest Tent Caterpillar
Megalopyge crispataBlack-Waved Flannel Moth, Crinkled Flannel Moth
Megalopyge pyxidiferaYellow Flannel Moth
Melanolophia canadariaCanadian Melanolphia, Variable Redmarked Looper
Melanomma auricinctariaGold-Lined Melanomma
Metarranthis duariaRuddy Metarranthis
Metarranthis obfirmariaYellow-Washed Metarranthis
Metaxaglaea australisSouthern Sallow
Metaxaglaea semitariaFootpath Sallow
Metaxaglaea viaticaRoadside Sallow
Morrisonia confusaConfused Woodgrain
Morrisonia evictaBicolored Woodgrain
Morrisonia mucensGray Woodgrain
Mythimna unipunctaArmyworm Moth, White Speck
Nematocampa resistariaFilament Bearer, Horned Spanworm Moth
Ochropleura implectaAmerican Flame-Shouldered Dart
Oedemasia concinnaRed-Humped Caterpillar, Red-Humped Appleworm
Olethreutes permundanaRaspberry Leafroller
Orgyia definitaDefinite Tussock Moth
Orgyia leucostigmaWhite-Marked Tussock Moth
Orthodes detractaDisparaged Arches, Disparaged Groundcat
Orthosia garmaniGarman's Quaker
Orthosia hibisciSpeckled Green Fruitworm Moth, Speckled Green Quaker
Orthosia rubescensRuby Quaker
Packardia geminataJeweled Tail Slug Moth
Pandemis limitataThree-Lined Leafroller Moth
Pangrapta decoralisDecorated Owlet
Paonias astylusHuckleberry Sphinx
Paonias myopsSmall-Eyed Sphinx
Papilio glaucusEastern Tiger Swallowtail
Parasa chlorisSmaller Parasa, Green Slug Moth
Parasa indeterminaStinging Rose Caterpillar Moth, Rose Slug Caterpillar
Phigalia strigatariaSmall Phigalia, Small Oak Looper
Phigalia titeaThe Half-Wing Geometer, Spiney Looper, Eastern Oak Looper
Phlogophora irisOlive Angle Shades
Phlogophora periculosaBrown Angle Shades
Platynota flavedanaBlack-Shaded Platynota
Platynota idaeusalisTufted Apple-Bud Moth
Platynota rostranaOmnivorous Platynota
Probole amicariaFriendly Probole
Prochoerodes lineolaLarge Maple Spanworm Moth
Prolimacodes badiaSkiff Moth, Skiff Caterpillar
Protoboarmia porcelariaPorcelain Gray, Dashedlined Looper
Protolampra brunneicollisBrown-Collared Dart
Satyrium liparopsStriped Hairstreak
Schizura ipomaeaeMorning-Glory Prominent, Checkered-Fringe Prominent
Scopula limboundataLarge Lace-Border
Seirarctia echoEcho Moth
Sparganothis sulfureanaSparganothis Fruitworm Moth, Sulfur Leafroller, False Yellow-Head
Sphinx canadensisCanadian Sphinx
Sphinx drupiferarumWild Cherry Sphinx
Spodoptera eridaniaSouthern Armyworm Moth
Spodoptera frugiperdaFall Armyworm Moth
Stenoptilodes taprobanesNarrow Plume Moth
Sunira bicoloragoBicolored Sallow
Thalera pistasciariaPistachio Emerald
Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformisEvergreen Bagworm Moth
Tortricidia testaceaEarly Button Slug
Xanthotype urticariaFalse Crocus Geometer
Xestia dilucidaDull Reddish Dart, Reddish Heath Dart
Xestia dolosaGreater Black-Letter Dart, Greater Spotted Cutworm
Xystopeplus rufagoRed-Winged Sallow
Zale aeruginosaGreen-Dusted Zale
Zomaria interruptolineanaBroken-Lined Zomaria
Aroga argutiola
Basicladus celibata
Cenopis karacana
Dichomeris vacciniella
Rhopobota finitimana
Tulsa finitella

Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)

52BeesSoutheastern regional records

Southeastern regional records · Vaccinium

Individual names are not available yet.

Noori, Seltmann & Orr 2026, A curated and integrated dataset for exploring global bee-plant interactions (GloBI), Zenodo, CC BY 4.0

8Specialist beesPollen specialists

Pollen specialists · Vaccinium

Andrena bradleyi
Andrena carolina
Colletes ultravalidus
Colletes validus
Melitta americana
Melitta eickworti
Osmia virga
Panurginus atramontensis

Smith, Bachelder, Russell, Morales, Mosher & Seltmann 2024, Bee-Specialization-Modeling v0.6.1 (specialist host table compiled from J. Fowler's pollen specialist bee lists), Zenodo, CC BY 4.0

22BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim

Recorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim · Vaccinium

Bonasa umbellusRuffed Grouse
Calcarius lapponicusLapland Longspur
Cardinalis cardinalisNorthern Cardinal
Catharus fuscescensVeery
Catharus guttatusHermit Thrush
Contopus virensEastern Wood-Pewee
Dendragapus obscurusDusky Grouse
Empidonax flaviventrisYellow-bellied Flycatcher
Falcipennis canadensisSpruce Grouse
Hylocichla mustelinaWood Thrush

Show all 22

Lagopus lagopusWillow Ptarmigan
Lagopus leucuraWhite-tailed Ptarmigan
Lagopus mutaRock Ptarmigan
Pinicola enucleatorPine Grosbeak
Plectrophenax nivalisSnow Bunting
Sialia sialisEastern Bluebird
Spizelloides arboreaAmerican Tree Sparrow
Sturnus vulgarisEuropean Starling
Turdus migratoriusAmerican Robin
Tympanuchus phasianellusSharp-tailed Grouse
Tyrannus tyrannusEastern Kingbird
Vireo olivaceusRed-eyed Vireo

Hurlbert, Olsen, Sawyer & Winner 2021, Avian Diet Database, Scientific Data 8: 260 (CC0)

Direct food only: birds recorded eating this genus across North America. Caterpillars on host plants also feed nesting birds. NC Native Plant Society: butterfly gardening

No records yet · Ants · Beetles · Flies · Adult butterflies / moths · Other wasps · Other insects

Growing and identification

Plant details

Family: Ericaceae
Hardiness: Zones 5a–9b
Soil pH: Acidic
Flower color: Pink or white
Fruit begins: June
Fruit ends: July

Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.

Growing sources and scope

Bloom · “Spring” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; FloraQuest: Carolinas, Georgia (Southeastern Flora Team) differs)
Flower color · “Pink or white” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center differs)
Fruit begins · “June” · FloraQuest: Carolinas, Georgia (Southeastern Flora Team), phone app (app page) · Carolinas and Georgia
Fruit ends · “July” · FloraQuest: Carolinas, Georgia (Southeastern Flora Team), phone app (app page) · Carolinas and Georgia
Hardiness · “Zones 5a–9b” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Height · “Up to about 2.5 feet” · Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Leaves · “Deciduous” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Life cycle · “Woody perennial” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center differs)
Light · “Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day); Partial shade (direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Soil · “Good drainage; Moist; Occasionally dry” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; NC Extension Plant Toolbox differs)
Soil pH · “Acidic” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox