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Vaccinium corymbosum is often confused with:
Enkianthus campanulatus Enkianthus campanulatus
Erica carnea Erica carnea 'Challenger'
Vaccinium formosum Vaccinium formosum
Vaccinium fuscatum Vaccinium fuscatum
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Cornus florida Cornus florida
Ilex verticillata ilex verticillata fruit and leaves
Prunus americana Form in bloom
Vaccinium corymbosum has some common disease problems:
Stem Blight of Blueberry
Twig Blight of Blueberry
Leaf Diseases of Blueberry
Vaccinium corymbosum has some other problems:
White-Tailed Deer

Highbush Blueberry Vaccinium corymbosum

Other Common Name(s):

Other plants called Highbush Blueberry:

Previously known as:

  • Vaccinium ashei
  • Vaccinium virgatum
Phonetic Spelling
vak-SIN-ee-um coh-rim-BOH-sum
Description

Highbush blueberry is in the heath (Ericaceae family and is native to eastern North America. It can grow 6 to 12 feet tall. It is an upright, multi-stemmed, slow-growing deciduous shrub found naturally in bogs, swamps, and high elevation forests. It is planted for its edible fruit and beautiful fall color. 

Although blueberries are self-fertile, planting multiple cultivars that bloom at the same time will lead to larger berries and a higher yield. Extend your harvest by planting early, mid-, and late-season blueberry varieties, which will make the fruit season run from June to mid-September. When planting and the year after, remove all flowers so that the shrub can focus on root and shoot growth. The third year after planting you can prune in the late winter to remove dead wood and maintain the shape of the shrub. 

Blueberries require a lower soil pH than many other small-fruit crops and other plants. Therefore, consider grouping them with other acid-loving plants such as hollies, azaleas, rhododendrons, and camellias. Before planting, take a soil test. The ideal pH for highbush blueberry is 5.0. Little annual attention is required, except for occasional pruning.

Use highbush blueberry as a hedge or mass planting in edible, pollinator, butterfly, children’s, or rain gardens.

Fire Risk: This plant has a low flammability rating.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Spotted wing drosophila may attack the fruit. Potential but infrequent disease problems include stem blight, root rot, anthracnose, cane cankers, mildew, and botrytis. Mummy berry is a fungal disease that causes the berries to shrivel and drop. Birds relish the fruit, so cover shrubs with netting as the fruit ripens. Deer frequently damage these plants. If the soil pH is too high, it will cause chlorosis (yellowing of leaves).

VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Vegetables, Herbs, Fruits, and Nuts" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.   

More information on Vaccinium.

Profile Video:
See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
'Climax', 'Legacy', 'O'Neal', 'Premier', 'Sampson'
Tags:
#showy flowers#deciduous#nectar plant#native shrub#native bees#showy fruits#small mammals#specialized bees#fire low flammability#NC native#swamps#children's garden#playground plant#screening#pollinator plant#edible garden#larval host plant#food source summer#NC Native Pollinator Plant#food source herbage#food source nectar#food source pollen#Coastal FACW#Piedmont Mountains FACW#bird friendly#nectar plant late spring#mammals#pollinizer#food source soft mast fruit#fall color red#butterfly friendly#nectar plant midspring#nectar plant early spring#bee friendly#Audubon#brown elfin butterfly#vhfn#vhfn-f#hedge#boggy sites#wildlife friendly#th-taste#cpp
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
'Climax', 'Legacy', 'O'Neal', 'Premier', 'Sampson'
Tags:
#showy flowers#deciduous#nectar plant#native shrub#native bees#showy fruits#small mammals#specialized bees#fire low flammability#NC native#swamps#children's garden#playground plant#screening#pollinator plant#edible garden#larval host plant#food source summer#NC Native Pollinator Plant#food source herbage#food source nectar#food source pollen#Coastal FACW#Piedmont Mountains FACW#bird friendly#nectar plant late spring#mammals#pollinizer#food source soft mast fruit#fall color red#butterfly friendly#nectar plant midspring#nectar plant early spring#bee friendly#Audubon#brown elfin butterfly#vhfn#vhfn-f#hedge#boggy sites#wildlife friendly#th-taste#cpp
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Vaccinium
    Species:
    corymbosum
    Family:
    Ericaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Seed
    Stem Cutting
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Eastern North America
    Distribution:
    AL , AR , CT , DC , DE , GA , IL , IN , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MS , NC , NH , NJ , NY , OH , OK , PA , RI , SC , TN , TX , VA , VT , WI , WV Canada: NB , NS , ON , QC
    Fire Risk Rating:
    low flammability
    Wildlife Value:
    Flowers attract butterflies and bees. This plant provides nectar for pollinators and supports Brown Elfin (Callophrys augustinus) larvae which have one flight and appear from May to July in the North and March to April in the South. Adult Brown Elfin butterflies feed on flower nectar. Its fruit attracts small mammals, ruffed grouse, wild turkey, black bears, squirrels, and songbirds, including American Robin, Eastern Bluebird, Scarlet Tanager, Eastern and Spotted Towhees, Gray Catbird, Northern Mockingbird, Brown Thrasher, and Northern Cardinal. The twigs provide food source for deer and rabbits. Members of the genus Vaccinium support the following specialized bees: Andrena (Conandrena) bradleyi, Andrena (Andrena) carolina, Panurginus atramontensis, Habropoda laboriosa, Colletes productus, Colletes validus, and Osmia (Melanosmia) virga.
    Play Value:
    Edible fruit
    Wildlife Food Source
    Edibility:
    The berries are edible and have been used raw, sun-dried. smoke-dried, and baked. They have high iron content.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 6 ft. 0 in. - 12 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 6 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Edible
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Native Plant
    Perennial
    Shrub
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Erect
    Multi-stemmed
    Rounded
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Medium
    Texture:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Occasionally Dry
    Available Space To Plant:
    6-feet-12 feet
    NC Region:
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Blue
    Green
    Pink
    Purple/Lavender
    Fruit Value To Gardener:
    Edible
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Summer
    Fruit Type:
    Berry
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    Blue to purple small round fruits that show up in August, ripening from a green to pink color to full ripeness. Females cannot produce fruit on their own. Fruit is edible.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Pink
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Corymb
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Flower Shape:
    Bell
    Urn
    Flower Petals:
    fused petals
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Small pink or white bell-shaped flowers that mature in clusters. Blooms from March to May.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Red/Burgundy
    Leaf Feel:
    Glossy
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Orange
    Purple/Lavender
    Red/Burgundy
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Elliptical
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Serrate
    Hairs Present:
    Yes
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Width:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Description:
    Reddish-green spring leaves turn blue-green in summer with lighter undersides. Excellent fall color with a mix of red, yellow, orange and purple.
  • Bark:
    Bark Color:
    Light Brown
    Light Gray
    Surface/Attachment:
    Exfoliating
    Furrowed
    Bark Description:
    Old stems have gray-brown thinly furrowed bark
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Green
    Red/Burgundy
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Description:
    New shoots are glabrous with a yellow-green to reddish color in the winter.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Recreational Play Area
    Landscape Theme:
    Butterfly Garden
    Children's Garden
    Edible Garden
    Native Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Rain Garden
    Design Feature:
    Hedge
    Mass Planting
    Attracts:
    Bees
    Butterflies
    Pollinators
    Songbirds
    Specialized Bees
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Compaction
    Fire
    Wet Soil
    Problems:
    Frequent Disease Problems