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Elliott's Blueberry Vaccinium elliottii

Other Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
vak-SIN-ee-um el-ee-OT-ee-eye
Description

Elliott's Blueberry is an edible deciduous shrub in the heath family found in the coastal plains of North Carolina and along riverbanks, thickets, and bottom land forests.   Plant in the full sun to partial shade in acidic soils.  Avoid soils where lime is present.  Lime in the soil will cause the leaves to become chlorotic, not producing sufficient chlorophyll, leading to yellowing of the leaves.

It can be grown in full sun or light shade, however, full sun will lead to more fruiting.  Provide shelter from strong winds.

This plant can be started in a container.  It does not like having its roots disturbed, so starting in a container before placing in it forever home will lead to less stress on the plant.  If starting from seed, placing in a container in a greenhouse or other such location and providing shade will lead to success.  Let the seedlings spend their first winter under these conditions then plant outdoors in late spring or early summer.

It can be easily confused with other rabbiteye blueberries, but it differs in the fact that it has smaller leaves with a length of only 1" long and numerous slender round hairy stems.  To make harvesting the fruit easier, prune after the fruit ripens so plants do not become too tall the following year.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  Chlorosis can occur in lime soils. Birds will eat the fruit, limiting collection for human consumption.  Occasional diseases affecting this plant include stem blight, root rot, cane cankers, mildew and botrytis.  The fruits can be affected by the blueberry maggot, cherry fruit worm and the spotted wing drosophila.  

VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Edibles, Bulbs, and Houseplants" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.   

More information on Vaccinium.

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Tags:
#deciduous#deciduous shrub#native shrub#fall interest#NC native#thickets#glossy leaves#pollinator plant#black fruits#larval host plant#fruits summer#food source summer#food source herbage#food source nectar#food source pollen#Coastal FACW#Piedmont Mountains FACW#bird friendly#mammals#food source soft mast fruit#fall color red#butterfly friendly#bee friendly#Audubon
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#deciduous#deciduous shrub#native shrub#fall interest#NC native#thickets#glossy leaves#pollinator plant#black fruits#larval host plant#fruits summer#food source summer#food source herbage#food source nectar#food source pollen#Coastal FACW#Piedmont Mountains FACW#bird friendly#mammals#food source soft mast fruit#fall color red#butterfly friendly#bee friendly#Audubon
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Vaccinium
    Species:
    elliottii
    Family:
    Ericaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Woody
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Division
    Layering
    Seed
    Stem Cutting
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Southeastern USA, Virginia to Florida and Texas
    Wildlife Value:
    Fruits are eaten by birds and small mammals. Stems provide browsing for deer.
    Play Value:
    Attracts Pollinators
    Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
    Heat and drought tolerant.
    Edibility:
    Fruits are highly edible fresh or cooked.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 4 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 4 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Edible
    Native Plant
    Shrub
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Dense
    Erect
    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:
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Available Space To Plant:
    3 feet-6 feet
    6-feet-12 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Black
    Fruit Value To Gardener:
    Edible
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Summer
    Fruit Type:
    Berry
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    The fruit displays from May to June. It can be eaten both raw and cooked. Unripe berries are green, turning black when they ripen.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Pink
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Raceme
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Flower Shape:
    Bell
    Urn
    Flower Petals:
    fused petals
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Flowers emerge before leaves on previous year's wood. Elongated bell-shaped white or pink. Blooms from February to April.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Glossy
    Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
    Red/Burgundy
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Elliptical
    Leaf Margin:
    Serrate
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Width:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Description:
    1" long elliptical shiny dark green leaves with finely serrate margins. Scarlet red fall color remains on shrub well into winter.
  • Bark:
    Bark Color:
    Dark Brown
    Red/Burgundy
    Surface/Attachment:
    Exfoliating
    Bark Description:
    Reddish-brown and exfoliating.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Cross Section:
    Round
    Stem Surface:
    Hairy (pubescent)
    Stem Description:
    Slender and numerous young stems are green.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Coastal
    Meadow
    Naturalized Area
    Patio
    Pool/Hardscape
    Vertical Spaces
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Butterfly Garden
    Edible Garden
    Native Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Design Feature:
    Accent
    Barrier
    Border
    Hedge
    Mass Planting
    Screen/Privacy
    Specimen
    Attracts:
    Bees
    Butterflies
    Pollinators
    Small Mammals
    Songbirds