Sparkleberry
Vaccinium arboreum
In the Carolinas and Georgia, found in glades, barrens and outcrops on mafic or serpentine rock; glades, barrens and outcrops on limestone. Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition What its natural habitat tells you
Native to Arkansas. How scores work Is it native here?
Profile 100%
- Height
- 8–15 feet
- Spread
- 4–10 feet
- Light
- Full sun, Partial shade
- Soil moisture
- Somewhat dry to moist
Space about 7 ft apart from its recorded spread. Enter your bed size for a count
Will it fit your yard?
At a glance
- Life cycle
- Woody perennial
- Leaves
- Deciduous, semi-evergreen or evergreen
- Bloom
- Spring and summer
- Fruiting season
- September to October
Recorded in 60 Arkansas counties.
Natural habitats
Places it grows wild. Not a planting requirement. Each habitat page lists the plants and wildlife also found there.
Glades, barrens and outcrops on mafic or serpentine rock
Open, thin-soil openings, outcrops and cliffs on dark, magnesium- or iron-rich rock such as serpentine, diabase or gabbro.
Glades, barrens and outcrops on limestone
Open, thin-soil openings and rock on limestone, dolomite or other lime-rich rock, including cedar glades.
Also found with this plant
Wildlife whose habitat models include habitats this plant grows in, in Arkansas. Shared habitat, not food. 52 animals.
- Snowy OwlBubo scandiacus
- Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgiana
- Wood DuckAix sponsa
- Yellow-throated VireoVireo flavifrons
Widespread birds also seen here (80)
Found in many habitats here, so not listed above.
- Alder Flycatcher
- American Goldfinch
- American Kestrel
- American Redstart
- American Robin
- Bald Eagle
- Baltimore Oriole
- Bank Swallow
- Belted Kingfisher
- Bewick's Wren
- Black-and-White Warbler
- Black-crowned Night-heron
- Blue Grosbeak
- Blue Jay
- Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
- Brown Creeper
- Brown Thrasher
- Canada Goose
- Carolina Chickadee
- Cedar Waxwing
- Chimney Swift
- Chipping Sparrow
- Common Nighthawk
- Common Yellowthroat
- Cooper's Hawk
- Dark-eyed Junco
- Double-crested Cormorant
- Downy Woodpecker
- Eastern Bluebird
- Eastern Kingbird
- Eastern Screech-owl
- Eastern Wood-pewee
- Eurasian Collared-dove
- European Starling
- Fox Sparrow
- Golden-crowned Kinglet
- Gray Catbird
- Great Horned Owl
- Hairy Woodpecker
- Harris's Sparrow
- Hermit Thrush
- Hooded Merganser
- Indigo Bunting
- Lincoln's Sparrow
- Mississippi Kite
- Mourning Dove
- Northern Cardinal
- Northern Flicker
- Northern Mockingbird
- Orange-crowned Warbler
- Orchard Oriole
- Osprey
- Pileated Woodpecker
- Pine Siskin
- Prairie Warbler
- Purple Finch
- Red-bellied Woodpecker
- Red-headed Woodpecker
- Red-tailed Hawk
- Red-winged Blackbird
- Ruby-crowned Kinglet
- Ruby-throated Hummingbird
- Rusty Blackbird
- Sharp-shinned Hawk
- Song Sparrow
- Spotted Sandpiper
- Summer Tanager
- Tree Swallow
- Tufted Titmouse
- Turkey Vulture
- White-breasted Nuthatch
- White-crowned Sparrow
- White-throated Sparrow
- Wild Turkey
- Wood Thrush
- Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
- Yellow-billed Cuckoo
- Yellow-breasted Chat
- Yellow-crowned Night-heron
- Yellow-rumped Warbler
Who uses this plant?
174CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including AR
Genus host records with ranges including AR · Vaccinium
- Abagrotis alternataGreater Red Dart, Mottled Grey Cutworm
- Abagrotis anchocelioidesBlueberry Budworm Moth
- Abagrotis cupidaCupid Dart
- Acharia stimuleaSaddleback Caterpillar Moth
- Achatia distinctaDistinct Quaker
- Acleris albicomanaRed-Edged Acleris
- Acleris curvalanaBlueberry Leaftier Moth
- Acleris maculidorsanaStained-Back Leafroller Moth
- Acleris minutaLesser Apple Leaf Folder, Yellowheaded Fireworm
- Acrobasis vacciniiCranberry Fruitworm
Show all 174
- Acronicta americanaAmerican Dagger
- Acronicta funeralisFunerary Dagger, Paddle Caterpillar
- Acronicta impletaYellow-Haired Dagger
- Acronicta impressaImpressive Dagger, Printed Dagger
- Acronicta noctivagaNight-Wandering Dagger, Burglar Dagger
- Acronicta tritonaGray Dagger, Triton Dagger
- Agnorisma bugraiCollared Dart
- 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
- 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
- Caenurgina erechteaClover Looper Moth, Common Grass Moth, Forage Looper
- Callophrys henriciHenry's Elfin
- Caloptilia belfragellaDogwood Caloptilia
- Campaea perlataPale Beauty, Fringed Looper
- Catocala andromedaeAndromeda Underwing
- Catocala gracilisGraceful 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
- Choristoneura zapulataZapulata Moth
- Chrysanympha formosaFormosa Looper Moth, Beautiful Looper
- Cladara limitariaMottled Gray Carpet, Yellow-Lined Conifer Looper, Yellow-Lined Forest Looper, Black-Angled Wave
- 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
- Dichomeris ligulellaPalmerworm
- Ectropis crepusculariaThe Small Engrailed, Saddleback Looper
- Egira alternansAlternate Woodling
- Elaphria grataGrateful Midget
- Emmelina monodactylaMorning-Glory Plume 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
- Eupsilia sidusSidus Sallow
- Eutrapela clematariaCurved-Tooth Geometer, Purplish Brown Looper
- Feltia jaculiferaDingy Cutworm
- Glena cognatariaBlueberry Gray
- Glena cribratariaDotted Gray
- Grapholita packardiCherry Fruit Worm
- Gypsonoma fasciolanaWillow-and-Poplar Leatroller
- 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
- Lacinipolia loreaBridled Arches, Bridle Groundcat
- Lambdina fiscellariaHemlock Looper, Western Oak Looper
- Limenitis archippusViceroy
- Limenitis arthemisBanded Purple, Red-Spotted Admiral
- Lithacodes fasciolaYellow-Shouldered Slug
- Lithophane bethuneiBethune's Pinion
- Lithophane petulcaWanton Pinion
- Macaria evagariaDrab Angle
- 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
- Melanchra pictaPainted Arches, Zebra Caterpillar Moth
- Melanolophia canadariaCanadian Melanolphia, Variable Redmarked Looper
- Melanomma auricinctariaGold-Lined Melanomma
- Metarranthis duariaRuddy Metarranthis
- Metarranthis hypochrariaCommon Metarranthis
- Metarranthis obfirmariaYellow-Washed Metarranthis
- Metaxaglaea inultaUnsalted Sallow, Viburnum Sallow
- Metaxaglaea semitariaFootpath Sallow
- Metaxaglaea viaticaRoadside Sallow
- Morrisonia confusaConfused 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 lacunanomLacuna Moth
- 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
- Phalaenostola metonalisPale Epidelta, Pale Phalaenostola
- Phigalia strigatariaSmall Phigalia, Small Oak Looper
- Phigalia titeaThe Half-Wing Geometer, Spiney Looper, Eastern Oak Looper
- Phlogophora periculosaBrown Angle Shades
- Platynota flavedanaBlack-Shaded Platynota
- Platynota idaeusalisTufted Apple-Bud Moth
- 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
- Sparganothis sulfureanaSparganothis Fruitworm Moth, Sulfur Leafroller, False Yellow-Head
- Sphinx canadensisCanadian Sphinx
- Sphinx drupiferarumWild Cherry Sphinx
- Spodoptera eridaniaSouthern Armyworm Moth
- Spodoptera frugiperdaFall Armyworm Moth
- Sunira bicoloragoBicolored Sallow
- Thalera pistasciariaPistachio Emerald
- Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformisEvergreen Bagworm Moth
- Tortricidia testaceaEarly Button Slug
- Xanthotype urticariaFalse Crocus Geometer
- Xestia c-nigrumSpotted Cut-Worm, Setaceous Hebrew Character, Lesser Black-letter Dart
- Xestia dolosaGreater Black-Letter Dart, Greater Spotted Cutworm
- Xestia smithiiSmith's Dart
- Xystopeplus rufagoRed-Winged Sallow
- Zale aeruginosaGreen-Dusted Zale
- Zomaria interruptolineanaBroken-Lined Zomaria
- Ancylis subaequana
- Aroga argutiola
- Cenopis karacana
- Dichomeris vacciniella
- Rhopobota finitimana
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
13BirdsRecorded eating Vaccinium in Arkansas
Diet records by plant genus, from studies across North America. Not a record from this state. Birds whose range includes Arkansas, most records first.
- Ruffed GrouseFruit and leaves. 14 diet records
- American RobinFruit. 3 diet records
- American Tree SparrowSeeds and flowers. 3 diet records
- European Starling3 diet records
- Eastern BluebirdFruit. 1 diet record
- Eastern KingbirdFruit. 1 diet record
- Eastern Wood-peweeFruit. 1 diet record
- Hermit ThrushFruit and seeds. 1 diet record
- Lapland Longspur1 diet record
- Northern CardinalSeeds. 1 diet record
Show all 13
- VeeryFruit and seeds. 1 diet record
- Wood ThrushFruit and seeds. 1 diet record
- Yellow-bellied FlycatcherFruit. 1 diet record
Direct food only. 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
Birds that eat Vaccinium 13
Diet records by plant genus, from studies across North America. Not a record from this state. Avian Diet Database (Hurlbert Lab), CC0 1.0.
- Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellus
- American RobinTurdus migratorius
- American Tree SparrowSpizella arborea
- European StarlingSturnus vulgaris
- Eastern BluebirdSialia sialis
- Eastern KingbirdTyrannus tyrannus
- Eastern Wood-peweeContopus virens
- Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatus
- Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicus
- Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalis
- VeeryCatharus fuscescens
- Wood ThrushHylocichla mustelina
- Yellow-bellied FlycatcherEmpidonax flaviventris
Plant details
- Family
- Ericaceae
- Hardiness
- Zones 7a–9b
- Soil pH
- Acidic to neutral
- Flower color
- White
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Growth habit
- Several stems
- Foliage color
- Dark green
- Fruit begins
- September
- Fruit ends
- October
Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.
Growing sources and scope
- Bloom · “Spring and summer” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition, USDA PLANTS differ)
- Flower color · “White” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
- Foliage color · “Dark green” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
- Fruit begins · “September” · Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition (ranked first; USDA PLANTS differs) · Carolinas and Georgia
- Fruit ends · “October” · Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition (ranked first; USDA PLANTS differs) · Carolinas and Georgia
- Growth habit · “Several stems” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
- Growth rate · “Moderate” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
- Hardiness · “Zones 7a–9b” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
- Height · “8–15 feet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; USDA PLANTS, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center differ)
- Leaves · “Deciduous, semi-evergreen or evergreen” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center differs)
- 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 (ranked first; Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center differs)
- primary_flower_color · “white” · USDA PLANTS
- Soil · “Good drainage; Moist; Occasionally dry” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; Tennessee Smart Yards, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center differ)
- Soil pH · “Acidic to neutral” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
- Spread · “4–10 feet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Also known as
Farkleberry
Conservation status
| Arkansas rank | SNR |
|---|---|
| Global rank | G5 |
| AR status | Not verified |
| Federal status | Not verified |
Will it fit your yard?
Check this plant against your county, sun and soil moisture. Conditions are checked in your browser.
Sources
- Atlas of the Vascular Plants of Arkansas (2013)
- USDA PLANTS
- Vascular Plants of North Carolina (NC Natural Heritage Program)
- Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025)
- Arkansas occurrence source
- Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)
- Noori, Seltmann & Orr 2026, A curated and integrated dataset for exploring global bee-plant interactions (GloBI), Zenodo, CC BY 4.0
- 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
- Hurlbert, Olsen, Sawyer & Winner 2021, Avian Diet Database, Scientific Data 8: 260 (CC0)
- Narango, Tallamy & Shropshire 2020, Few keystone plant genera support the majority of Lepidoptera species, Nature Communications


















