Vaccinium reticulatum aka Ohelo

Vaccinium reticulatum is a shrub from Hawaii. It keeps its leaves all year. It belongs to Ericaceae, the heath family. The RHS calls it ohelo berry and accepts its scientific name. Kew places it in the wet tropical biome, a climate zone. People gather it in the wild for food. They also use it in folk medicine. These records describe a wild shrub. They do not describe a crop with known growing needs.

The plant has rhizomes, or stems that grow below ground. Its stiff shoots stand upright. Its usual height is about 0.3–4.3 feet [0.1–1.3 metres]. Some plants reach 6.6 feet [2 metres]. These heights describe the species, not a tested garden range. The Tropical Plants Database also lists 3.3 feet [1 metre]. Its photo captions note red leaves on new growth. The sources say no more about this species' leaf shape or bark.

This shrub can grow as bare sites first recover. Records place it on fresh lava flows and other exposed ground. One photo caption notes roots in cracks in volcanic rock. This helps explain where it grows on Hawaii's volcanic land. It does not show which soil or watering plan suits gardens. The evidence gives no firm guide to light needs. Nor does it show how much frost the plant can bear. It gives no firm guide to pruning or feeding.

You can eat the fruit, which holds many small seeds. It may be yellow-green, orange-yellow, pink, or red. Other fruit may be dark purple or black. Photo captions also note forms with blue fruit or yellow fruit. The source's fruit-size figure needs a check. For this reason, this text gives no fruit width. The records show plants in bloom. They do not describe the species' flowers. Nor do they say when it blooms or how pollination works.

Folk medicine uses the leaf buds, leaves, and fruit. One recorded mix uses them with other plants for stomach pain. It includes turmeric root, coconut, white sugarcane, and Rumex species. It also uses either Canavalia cathartica or Dioclea wilsonii. This records use, not proof that it is safe or helps. The database reports no known hazards. It does not assess pet safety. It lists growing from seed but gives no steps. It gives no data on pests, disease, or growth in gardens. It records no other uses.