NC Native Plant Society:
Plant Details

Vaccinium stamineum var. stamineum

Deerberry, Common Deerberry

Scientific Name:	Vaccinium stamineum var. stamineum
Genus:	Vaccinium
Species Epithet:	stamineum var. stamineum
Common Name:	Deerberry, Common Deerberry
Plant Type	Shrub
Life Cycle	Perennial
Plant Family	Ericaceae (Heath Family)
Native/Alien:	NC Native
Size:	0-1 ft., 1-3 ft., 3-6 ft., 6-12 ft.
Bloom Color(s):	White, Pink, Green
Soil Moisture:	Dry, Moist
Bloom Time:	April, May, June
Growing Area:	Mountains, Piedmont, Sandhills, Coastal Plain
Habitat Description:	Xeric to submesic woodlands, forests, and rock outcrops (unlike most Vaccinium, often on mafic, ultramafic, or calcareous rocks).
Leaf Arrangement:	Alternate
Leaf Retention:	Deciduous
Leaf Type:	Leaves veined, not needle-like or scale-like
Leaf Form:	Simple
Life Cycle:	Perennial
Wildlife Value:	Highest Wildlife Value
Landscape Value:	Highly Recommended and Available
Notes:	NC State Extension "this plant in moderately resistant to damage from deer. It is a host plant for the Brown Elfin butterfly. Adult butterflies nectar from the blooms. Its fruits are eaten by songbirds, small mammals, ruffed grouse, wild turkeys and black bears. Weakley lists 5 varieties of Vaccinium stamineum in NC. Members of the genus Vaccinium support the following specialized bees: Andrena (Conandrena) bradleyi, Andrena (Andrena) carolina, Panurginus atramontensis, Habropoda laboriosa, Colletes productus, Colletes validus, and Osmia (Melanosmia) virga."
Deerberry in flower Deerberry is variable in leaf, size and berry color and has many varieties, including a dwarf variety in Coastal pinelands. Common throughout the state. Paynter, Wilmington, late April, 2010
Flowers from above Jorge Vigueras
Close-up of flowers showing stamens Deerberry has an open bell-shape flower with the stamens showing prominently. Thus the species name, 'stamineum'. Paynter, Wilmington, April 2010
Links:	USDA PLANTS Database Record Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Flora of North America NC State Extension