Sparkleberry facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Vaccinium arboreum |
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V. arboreum
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The sparkleberry (also called farkleberry) is a type of plant. Its scientific name is Vaccinium arboreum. This plant is native to the southeastern United States. You can usually find sparkleberries growing from southern Virginia all the way west to southeastern Missouri. They also grow south into Florida and eastern Texas.
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What is a Sparkleberry Plant?
A sparkleberry is usually a shrub, which is a bushy plant. Sometimes, it can grow into a small tree. These plants can reach heights of 3 to 5 metres (about 10 to 16 feet). Some can even grow as tall as 9 meters (nearly 30 feet)!
Leaves and How They Change
The leaves of the sparkleberry plant are interesting. In warmer southern areas, the leaves stay green all year round. This means they are evergreen. But in colder northern places, where winters are chilly, the leaves fall off. This makes them deciduous.
The leaves are shaped like an oval, with a pointy tip. They are about 3 to 7 cm (1 to 3 inches) long and 2 to 4 cm (about 1 to 1.5 inches) wide. Their edges are smooth or have very tiny teeth.
Sparkleberry Flowers
The flowers of the sparkleberry are white and shaped like tiny bells. Each flower is about 3 to 4 mm (a little over 0.1 inch) across. They have five parts that look like petals. These pretty flowers grow in clusters up to 5 cm (2 inches) long.
What About the Fruit?
The fruit of the sparkleberry is a small, round berry. It's about 6 mm (0.24 inch) wide. When it first appears, it's green. But as it ripens, it turns black. Even though the fruit is edible, it tastes bitter and is quite tough to chew.
Images for kids
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Flowers
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Branch
See also
In Spanish: Vaccinium arboreum para niños
