It is a deciduous shrub growing to 4 metres (13 feet) tall with bright green shoots with an angular cross-section.

It is common in forests from southeastern Alaska and British Columbia south through western Washington and Oregon to central California.

As a crop plant (along with the other huckleberries of the genus in western North America), it is not currently grown on a large commercial agriculture scale, despite efforts to make this possible.

[1][9] Indigenous peoples of North America—including the Bear River Band, Karok, and Pomo tribes[10]—found the plant and its fruit very useful.

Dried berries were stewed and made into sauces, or mixed with salmon roe and oil to eat at winter feasts.