Low Bush Blueberry Vaccinium angustifolium
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- vak-SIN-ee-um an-gus-tee-FOH-lee-um
- Description
-
Low bush blueberry is a low-growing small native deciduous shrub. It can be found growing in open conifer woods, sandy or rocky balds and old fields. Prefers full sun to partial shade, acidic moist to dry soils. Plant more than one for the best fruit production. It is commonly propagated in the spring by taking softwood cuttings or you can grow it from seed. There are two types of blueberries: highbush and low bush. Highbush are those that are commonly found in stores. Lowbush blueberries are smaller and sweeter, and are therefore used often in jams and jellies.
This plant will benefit from acidic soils that are moist, high in organic matter and well drained. It can be grown in full sun to part shade, however, a location with full sun with result into more blooms, more fruit and a more showy fall foliage.
Blooming occurs on old wood.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Spotted winged drosophila. Alkaline soils can lead to leaf chlorosis.
VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Edibles, Bulbs, and Houseplants" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Burgundy'
Excellent red fall color. - 'Claret'
Excellent red fall color. - 'Cumberland'
High quality, large sweet fruit. - 'Fundy'
High quality, large sweet fruit. - 'Jonesboro'
Excellent red fall color. - 'North Country'
2' tall, sweet, mild fruit, red fall color. - 'Northsky'
18", small, flavorful fruit. - 'Pretty Yellow'
Under 12" tall, yellowish fall color. - 'Spring'
Under 12" tall, yellowish fall color. - 'Tophat'
2' tall, container, bears fruit without a pollinator. - 'Verde'
Under 12" tall, yellowish fall color.
- 'Burgundy'
- 'Burgundy', 'Claret', 'Cumberland', 'Fundy', 'Jonesboro', 'North Country', 'Northsky', 'Pretty Yellow', 'Spring', 'Tophat', 'Verde'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Burgundy'
Excellent red fall color. - 'Claret'
Excellent red fall color. - 'Cumberland'
High quality, large sweet fruit. - 'Fundy'
High quality, large sweet fruit. - 'Jonesboro'
Excellent red fall color. - 'North Country'
2' tall, sweet, mild fruit, red fall color. - 'Northsky'
18", small, flavorful fruit. - 'Pretty Yellow'
Under 12" tall, yellowish fall color. - 'Spring'
Under 12" tall, yellowish fall color. - 'Tophat'
2' tall, container, bears fruit without a pollinator. - 'Verde'
Under 12" tall, yellowish fall color.
- 'Burgundy'
- 'Burgundy', 'Claret', 'Cumberland', 'Fundy', 'Jonesboro', 'North Country', 'Northsky', 'Pretty Yellow', 'Spring', 'Tophat', 'Verde'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Vaccinium
- Species:
- angustifolium
- Family:
- Ericaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Northeastern North America, NC
- Distribution:
- CT, DE, IA, IL, IN, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, TN, VA, VT, WI, WV
- Fire Risk Rating:
- medium flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- Native bees pollinate flowers. Berries are relished by birds and other wildlife. Butterflies are attracted to the blooms.
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Buffer
- Edible fruit
- Wildlife Food Source
- Edibility:
- Highly edible berries are enjoyed fresh, cooked or frozen.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Edible
- Ground Cover
- Native Plant
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Multi-stemmed
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
-
-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Blue
- Green
- Pink
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Juicy and edible berries in the summer.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Bell
- Urn
- Flower Petals:
- fused petals
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- The small white flowers are tinged with pink.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Lanceolate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Porous foliage. Foliage turns from reddish-green in spring to a dark blue-green in the summer than to a maroon-purple in the all. Lighter, glaucous underside.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Green
- Light Brown
- Surface/Attachment:
- Exfoliating
- Bark Description:
- New growth is green while older growth is brown with exfoliating bark.
-
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- The multi-stemmed, twiggy branches may turn red in winter.
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-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Patio
- Small Space
- Walkways
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Edible Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Songbirds
- Specialized Bees
