Thick-leaved Whortlberry Vaccinium crassifolium
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- vak-SIN-ee-um krass-ih-FOH-lee-um
- Description
-
Creeping Blueberry is an evergreen shrub in the Ericaceae family native to only 4 states in the southeastern US. It can form a dense mat for an effective groundcover with 4 season interest. It prefers acidic well-drained sandy to loam soils. It cannot tolerate soils where lime is present. It grows naturally in the savannas, pine flat woods, and sandy areas. Clusters of pinkish, bell-shaped flowers appear along the stems in April.
Giving it a showy appearance, new growth emerges bronze and turns to a dark green in summer. The leaves are thick and have a leathery feel. They are closely packed along the horizontal stems.
Fruit in the form of berries form in the summer and are edible both raw and cooked. It will grow in both sunny or lightly shaded locations; however, it will fruit best in full sun.
This plant does not like its roots disturbed, so growing as a container plant is an option prior to placing in its permanent location. The two cultivars listed, 'Well's Delight' and 'Bloodstone' can grow to form an almost solid evergreen carpet and are often recommended as a ground cover. The fruit of 'Well's Delight' has a slight aromatic flavor.
In Zones 1 through 7, Creeping Blueberry is heat tolerant.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: None noted.
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:
-
- 'Bloodstone'
very low growing, to 5-8 inches high, indefinitely spreading, dark green, somewhat glossy, reddish in winter. - 'Well's Delight'
Trailing or low arching branches.
- 'Bloodstone'
- 'Bloodstone', 'Well's Delight'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Bloodstone'
very low growing, to 5-8 inches high, indefinitely spreading, dark green, somewhat glossy, reddish in winter. - 'Well's Delight'
Trailing or low arching branches.
- 'Bloodstone'
- 'Bloodstone', 'Well's Delight'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Vaccinium
- Species:
- crassifolium
- Family:
- Ericaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Layering
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Southeastern U.S.A., North Carolina and Georgia
- Distribution:
- VA, NC, SC, GA
- Wildlife Value:
- 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. Birds and mammals are attracted to the berries.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Edible fruit
- Wildlife Food Source
- Edibility:
- Blueberries are edible.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 10 in. - 1 ft. 8 in.
- Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
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-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Edible
- Ground Cover
- Native Plant
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Creeping
- Horizontal
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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-
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:
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Purple/Lavender
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Small purple-black round fruits that appear from June to July.
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Red/Burgundy
- White
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Bell
- Urn
- Flower Petals:
- fused petals
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Small pendulous clusters of rosy red and white bell-shaped flowers in spring (April-May).
-
-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leathery
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Obovate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- 1/2 inch finely serrate, glossy dark green to bronze leaves.
-
-
Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Light Brown
- Surface/Attachment:
- Exfoliating
- Bark Description:
- Brown and exfoliating.
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Reddish-brown stems
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Container
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Patio
- Slope/Bank
- Walkways
- Landscape Theme:
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Edible Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rock Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Specialized Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
