Bilberry Vaccinium pallidum
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Vaccinium vacillans
- Phonetic Spelling
- vak-SIN-ee-um va-SIL-ans
- Description
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Lowbush Blueberry is a native deciduous shrub in the Ericaceae (blueberry) family and can be found in dry woodlands, forests on slopes, clearings, and thickets. It grows to 2-3 feet tall and wide with a rounded form. It is a low maintenance and drought tolerant plant that has beautiful red to orange fall color. It spreads through underground runners and can form clumps. This is a high-value wildlife plant as the berries are eaten by many and the shrub is a host plant.
The shrub easily hybridizes with other blueberry plants so the leaves, flowers and fruit may vary in size and shape.
Lowbush Blueberry can be used as an ornamental shrub in the native garden or naturalized area. It is adaptable to soil types as long as they are well-drained and acidic and does best in full sun but tolerates shade.
Fire Risk: This plant has a low flammability rating.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: This plant will not survive in alkaline soils.
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:
- pallidum
- Family:
- Ericaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern and central North America
- Distribution:
- : AL , AR , CT , DC , DE , GA , IL , IN , KS , KY , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MS , NC , NH , NJ , NY , OH , OK , PA , RI , SC , TN , VA , VT , WI , WV Canada: ON
- Fire Risk Rating:
- low flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- It is a host plant for the Brown Elfin butterfly. Its fruits are eaten by songbirds, small mammals, ruffed grouse, wild turkeys and black bear. 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.
- Edibility:
- The fruit of the Lowbush blueberry can be eaten raw or cooked. The flavor is sweet to bland.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Edible
- Native Plant
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- 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
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Blue
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- 1/4 inch edible blue-black berry matures in mid-summer (June-July). The fruit is edible and sweet to the taste. Females cannot produce fruit on their own.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Bell
- Urn
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- 1/3 inch white bell-shaped flowers that form in tight hanging clusters occur late spring (March-April)
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Orange
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Obovate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- 1- 2.25-inch oval to ovate leaves are .5 to 1 inch across and medium to yellow-green. The undersides are pale green, sometimes glaucous, and may have hairs. Margins are entire but may have some serration near the apex. Fall color is oranges to reds.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Green
- Light Brown
- Red/Burgundy
- Surface/Attachment:
- Smooth
- Bark Description:
- The bark is smooth and green to green-red.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Stems are glabrous and yellowish-green with small warty dots. Older branches become woody and vary in color from red to yellowish-brown;
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Naturalized Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Edible Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Hedge
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Fire
