Vaccinium arboreum aka Farkleberry

Vaccinium arboreum, also known as sparkleberry or farkleberry, is a species of evergreen shrub or small tree that can reach heights of up to 20 feet. It is native to the southeastern and south-central regions of the United States, ranging from southern Virginia to southeastern Nebraska and south to Florida and eastern Texas, and north to Illinois. The leaves of the sparkleberry plant are oval-elliptic with an acute apex, and can either be evergreen or deciduous depending on the climate. The bark is shredded and patchy with reds, browns, and grays present. Sparkleberry grows best in sandy or rocky soil that is well-draining, and can tolerate drought and heat. It prefers sun to partial shade and can be found in a variety of habitats such as sand dunes, hammocks, dry hillsides, meadows, and rocky woods. The plant produces small, white, bell-shaped flowers on racemes in late spring to early summer. The flowers are followed by black berries that mature in the fall and contain up to 10 seeds each. Wildlife such as birds and mammals are attracted to the berries and eat them. In addition, sparkleberry is a high-value wildlife plant. Despite its native habitat, sparkleberry can also be grown indoors as a houseplant. It is not particularly challenging to grow and needs regular watering, as well as direct light from a window less than 1 foot away. When repotting, soil that is well-draining is preferred. Fertilizers are not necessary if the plant is repotted each time it doubles in size. Sparkleberry belongs to the Vaccinium genus and is a valuable plant across a range of habitats.