Thanks for the replies, lucky_p, trianglejohn, and gonebananas. Based on a little more research, I think the plant is question is indeed the deerberry--for several reasons: 1) The leaves do not have any yellow resin spots on them. 2) Whereas "huckleberries" have 10 seeds apiece, these berries have a lot more. 3) The seeds are no larger than those of blueberries. 4) I have never seen these berries get any darker. 5) The undersides of the leaves are "glaucous," which is one characteristic of deerberry plants. 6) In my state, supposedly only about 8 (mostly mountainous) counties have the "huckleberry," and the closest county is about 30 miles away. So apparently it's never been spotted in my county. I wish I had paid attention to what color the flowers were in the spring, but regardless, it seems pretty obvious that these berries are deerberries. I'm glad to finally know what these bushes are! :) Thanks again.

Pteroceltis: Looks like you'll have plenty to look forward to for generations to come. I only have one general comment on something from your list above. "Quercus prinus and Quercus michauxii (Chestnut and Swamp Chestnut Oaks): Will flank part of an alley that runs along side a pumpkin patch. Will be interesting to have a side-by-side comparison of these uncommon (around here at least) very similar Oaks." Actually (other than leaf morphology) these are quite dissimilar trees. Quercus prinus, the Chestnut Oak, occurs naturally around here on xeric upland sites in association with Blackjack Oak, Scarlet Oak, and White Oak, has huge flattened ridged and furrowed bark more like a Red Oak group tree than like the White Oak group it is a member of. It has big long oblong acorns, with a relatively shallow cap. I have never seen much more than yellow to yellow-brown fall color on this species, though it is supposed to be able to produce some orange. Quercus michauxii, the Swamp Chestnut Oak, on the other hand occurs naturally here in bottomlands, swamps, and along sedentary streams in association with Sweetgum, Blackgum, Overcup Oak, and Pin Oak, and has the typical scaly flaking bark like White Oak and Swamp White Oak. The acorns are also large, but not as long relative to width, and the cap covers more of the seed. This tree often has nice red fall color, though not quite up there in fluorescence with Nyssa or Acer rubrum. None of this will matter when under the care of a patient plantsman. It may matter in siting them, if you are looking for longevity and for natural reproduction of the species. Have fun with your menagerie, and report often.

Hi Steve, Yes, those slightly rounded, glossy leaves are quite indicative of sparkleberry. The fact that they are blooming now and the blooms are held in "leafy-bracted racemes" would also serve to confirm that it is Vaccinium arboreum. Good find.

Sure looks like some kind of Vaccinium: Highbush Blueberry, Sparkleberry/Farkleberry, Deerberry, or something like that. It's well past Blueberry bloom time here in the Panhandle, and Farkleberry blooms later in the Spring. So, if the picture is very recent, I might guess that. Still more likely to do so if the plant is much over 10-12' tall (couldn't really tell whether the picture showed all of it). Not familiar with Staggerbush (Lyonia).