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Sparkleberry Tree {Vaccinium arboreum} Fruiting Shrub | Heirloom NON GMO | Tea Alternative | 15+ Pre-Stratified seeds Free Shipping! Sparkleberry is a Florida-native tree and a close relative of blueberry, huckleberry, lingonberry, and cranberry. It is occasionally referred to as "farkleberry," a name which likely began as a mispronunciation of sparkleberry. As an understory tree, sparkleberry is a good fit for both large and small landscapes. Delicate flowers, glossy foliage, shiny berries, and interesting bark make it a tree with year-round interest. Sparkleberry is wildlife friendly, drought tolerant, wind resistant, and well adapted to Florida's sandy soils, too! Characteristics Sparkleberry (Vaccinium arboreum) grows as a perennial shrub or small tree. It reaches a maximum height of 18-25 feet and can be pruned into a single- or multi-trunked form. It is native to the Southeast, ranging from USDA Hardiness Zones 6 down to 9b. In sites where it is planted as an ornamental, sparkleberry is found as far south as 10b. Sparkleberry (Vaccinium arboreum) is a well loved deciduous large shrub or small tree maturing from 12 to 25 feet. It is the largest growing of the Blueberry family in North America.With a little cool weather, the leaves will give some late fall color before dropping for the winter and it displays ornamental red peeling bark. Spring flowers resemble tiny, white bells. The fruit has thin, slightly sweet pulp and large seeds consumed by wildlife. The purple berry is shiny and its appearance gives it the common name Sparkleberry. Butterflies and birds are attracted to its flowers and fruit. Plant in moist, sunny locations. Sparkleberry is not as demanding of acidic soil condition as other Blueberries and although it is slow, it should be used in landscaping more often. Sparkleberry is usually deciduous, with glossy-green elliptical leaves, two inches in length. The bark is pale, but flakes off to show a reddish color underneath. In the southern-most areas of its range, sparkleberry is sometimes evergreen. In northern areas, gardeners can expect showy fall color in cooler years. When it loses its leaves, the twisted, angular trunk and limbs are as eye-catching as the foliage. Fragrant, small, white flowers hang like bells from its twigs for two weeks in the spring. Green summer foliage and blue-black berries in the fall make sparkleberry a thing of beauty all year long. In late winter and early spring the flowers are a welcome source of food for pollinators. Berries feed birds and small mammals in the fall, too, making sparkleberry a landscape addition that welcomes wildlife. Planting and Maintenance Small tree Sparkleberry's twisting, reddish brown bark adds year-round interest to the landscape. As a native to Florida, sparkleberry is well adapted to our hot and humid climate. It grows in both full sun and partial shade. In the wild it grows as an understory tree and can be established below larger shade trees in home landscapes. Sparkleberry prefers sandy, dry soils with a pH at or below 7. It will tolerate occasionally wet soils. After it is established, sparkleberry should require very little additional irrigation. As with most plants that are labeled "large shrubs or small trees," pruning is necessary to achieve a specific form. Without pruning, sparkleberry will grow into a tall, irregular shrub. If you prefer a single-trunked tree form, prune off shoots that compete with the main trunk. Aside from regular pruning, sparkleberry is a low-maintenance plant. As with all native plants, it will be subject to some light insect damage but is free from any serious pest or disease issues. This species also causes few to no allergies. Germination: surface sow and keep moist, cover seedbed with some shade. Scarification: Soak in water, let stand in water for 24 hours. Stratification: cold stratify for 90 days.