Cascade Blueberry (Vaccinium deliciosum)
Rarity: Hidden atop the clouds — Beloved by forest sprites and alpine wanderers, these berries ripen beneath the sun’s summer kiss, far from mortal roads.
The Cascade Blueberry is a small, low-growing shrub native to the subalpine meadows and mountain slopes of the Pacific Northwest. Its vibrant blue berries are as delicious as its name implies, tart, sweet, and bursting with flavor. Often found carpeting ridgelines and alpine clearings, this native species is a seasonal treat for bears, birds, and hikers alike. With delicate bell-shaped flowers in spring and fiery red foliage in fall, Vaccinium deliciosum is a year-round beauty in high places.
Ecological Role
Cascade Blueberry is a foundational species in alpine meadow ecosystems. Its mat-forming growth helps stabilize soils in harsh mountain environments, and its berries provide crucial late-summer nutrition for black bears, grouse, and small mammals preparing for winter. Pollinators, especially bumblebees, rely on its early flowers at high elevation where few others bloom.
It also plays a role in post-disturbance recovery, especially after snowpack shifts, windfall, or fire. Its leaves and roots are adapted to thin, rocky soils, and help anchor alpine plant communities in place, acting as a natural buffer against erosion.