Farkleberries
November 7, 2009
The farkleberry or sparkleberry is Texas’ wild blueberry. Vaccinium arboreum is a gorgeous small tree or shrub that grows just east of town in the Bastrop area. There are a few other Vaccinium species that grow in East Texas, but Vaccinium arboreum is the most common in our area. The berries are ripe right now and are delicious eaten raw just like cultivated blueberries. There are pockets of sandy, more acidic soils east of town (think the Lost Pines of Bastrop) that accommodate these lovely plants. And check out the fall-colored red leaves – don’t let anyone tell you there’s no fall color here in Central Texas! Chris picked these berries a few days ago on our land out near Smithville; the kids enjoyed a sparkleberry treat!
