Shiny Blueberry Vaccinium myrsinites
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Cyanococcus myrsinites
- Vaccinium nitidum
- Description
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Shiny Blueberry has white to pink flowers and is native to Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. In it natural habitat it can be found growing in mixed forests, areas of sand pine scrub and subtropical pine forests, which include prairies or barrens and at the edges of shrub-tree bogs or bays.
Previously called Ground Blueberry, the common name was changed in 2018.
An important source of food for wildlife. Black bear, raccoon, white-footed mouse, red fox, gray fox, skunks, deer, chipmunks, deer mice, and squirrels seek out the berries as a source of food. Many species of birds also consume the fruits. Among these are the ring-necked pheasant, gray catbird, thrushes, thrashers, and bluebirds. It is a major source of food in the spring and summer for the northern bobwhite. In addition to wildlife, human consumption of the fruit is common, both raw and cooked.
Solitary plants rarely produce fruit. Placing multiple, unrelated plants together will result in fruit production.
Spreading by rhizomes, this plant can colonize, covering large areas. It also forms runners that can spread along the ground when surrounding vegetation is absent, such as from fire or other methods. In some locations, Shiny Blueberry is a prominent understory shrub. Often, fire is used as a means of eliminating other vegetation in order for this plant to flourish. Following such an occurrence, future fruiting will be greatly increased. The foliage can be consumed by fire, however, the underground stolons will survive and sprout. Birds and some mammals can also transport some seed to burned areas.
When growing from seed, ideal conditions include placing the seedlings in a greenhouse in some light shade. These conditions should exist through the plants first winter. Plant outdoors in a permanent locations after the last frost, late spring, into early summer. Lime free soil is required.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Can become invasive.
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:
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- Tags:






- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Vaccinium
- Species:
- myrsinites
- Family:
- Ericaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Layering
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina
- Fire Risk Rating:
- low flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- Numerous mammals in the wild feed on the berries. Pollinators are attracted to the flowers.
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Wildlife Cover/Habitat
- Wildlife Food Source
- Edibility:
- The fruits are edible.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Semi-evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- 3 feet-6 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 8b, 8a, 9b, 9a, 10b, 10a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Blue
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Round blue to black fruit containing numerous seeds or nutlets. Ripening occurs in late spring into summer. The fruits are round, and a bluish-gray when ripe.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- White
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Urn
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- The fused-petaled flowers bloom in clusters of 2 to 8. The white flowers are enclosed by pink calyxes.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Semi-evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Obovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- The green-gray leaves range from pubescent to glabrous. The undersides are typically glandular. The upper side of the leaves is glossy. The underside have microscopic red glands. New leaves are typically half the size of mature leaves. The margins of new leaves can be pink tinged.
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Bark:
- Bark Description:
- New bark is green, round and slightly pubescent. As it ages, it becomes more woody.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Angular
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- The many branched stems can range from glabrous to densely pubescent. New growth is green, becoming woody as it ages.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Patio
- Slope/Bank
- Walkways
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Edible Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rock Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Barrier
- Border
- Hedge
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Fire
- Heat
- Poor Soil
- Problems:
- Short-lived