Gaylussacia orocola, is a plant species native only to the southern Appalachians of western North Carolina.

[2] The plant's juicy berries are a deep blue-black, adored by birds and mammals, and considered essentially tasteless.

[2][7] According to The North Carolina Natural Heritage Program (NCNHP), G. orocola has legally protected status through the North Carolina Plant Conservation Program (NCPCP) and is listed as Endangered.

The NCNHP has also provided an additional status of "Significantly Rare-Limited", indicating that, as an endemic species, the preponderance of G. orocola distribution is in North Carolina and its fate depends largely on conservation within the state.

[2][5][4] The Centre for Plant Conservation identified the species as being at extreme risk of extinction due to habitat loss.