Bloomipedia
Grouse whortleberry (Vaccinium scoparium)
Photo: Erik Schiff via iNaturalist · CC0 · resized

Flower profile

Grouse whortleberry

Vaccinium scoparium

Native to Wyoming

Grouse whortleberry is a flowering plant that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states.

11states
523WY sightings*
3,358U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Wyoming

Quick look

Vaccinium scoparium is a species of huckleberry known by the common names grouse whortleberry, grouseberry, and littleleaf huckleberry.

  • It belongs to the Ericaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as a shrub / a subshrub with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 11 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to Wyoming. NatureServe
  • USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as red. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as early summer. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 2 ft. USDA PLANTS
  • iNaturalist has 523 research-grade sightings of it in Wyoming, ranking #55 among the 107 flowers on our Wyoming list. iNaturalist

Grouse whortleberry gift ideas

Handmade grouse whortleberry gifts from independent makers.

🌱 Sample spot. Handmade gift picks from independent shops will appear here once our shop partnership is approved. These cards are placeholders, not real products.

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When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month in Wyoming (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (18 records)

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
Wyoming
No list Wyoming has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Wyoming ranks instead. NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in Wyoming.
Rare elsewhere
Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: NV (S1). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records grouse whortleberry in 11 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wyoming.

Wyoming counties with USDA records: Albany, Big Horn, Carbon, Crook, Fremont, Johnson, Lincoln, Natrona, Park, Sheridan, Sublette, Sweetwater, Teton, Uinta, Washakie, Weston.

More Wyoming flowers

Woodland pinedrops (Pterospora andromedea)

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🌼 Blooms in WY: July–August
Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi)

Bearberry

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi

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🌼 Blooms in WY: April–July
Pipsissewa (Chimaphila umbellata)

Pipsissewa

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🌼 Blooms in WY: July–August

Sources