What Is Huckleberry? How Is It Different From Blueberry?

Huckleberry is a term used in the US to describe numerous variations of plants, all of whom bear small berries that assume different colors, such as red, blue, or black.

The plants collectively belong to the family Ericaceae, a family of flowering plants commonly referred to as the heath family. These plants inhabit acidic and infertile vegetative areas, which explains why these species can grow in Antarctica, Central Greenland, and parts of the High Arctic.

The differences between hurtleberries and blueberries are less botanical and primarily geographical. Common names may refer to different flowering species or the same plant in different parts of the US. The common names make sorting processes difficult. As mentioned, both are called whortleberries, defined as the members of the plant family Ericaceae.