Northern Blueberry
Vaccinium australe

Family: Ericaceae

What it is like

An excellent blueberry species with large fruit best suited to cooler climates. Leave the fruit on the shrub until the last minute, as the fruit is very acidic and will not ripen after being picked. When ripe they make an excellent berry for cooking or eating fresh.

Vaccinium australe is a deciduous Shrub growing to 1.5 m (5ft) by 1.5 m (5ft) at a medium rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 2. The flowers are pollinated by Bees. The plant is not self-fertile. It is noted for attracting wildlife. Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid soils and can grow in very acid soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil. It cannot tolerate atmospheric pollution.

Height (m): 1.5

Where it is found

Swamps, low wet woods, pine barrens and dry uplands.

Introduced in Europe (Britain, The Netherlands), Asia (Japan), USA, Canada.

Conservation Status: Not listed

Countries/locations it is found in

Europe (Britain, The Netherlands), Asia (Japan), USA, Canada.

How it is used

Food

Rating: 4

Fruit - raw or cooked. It is usually sweet and juicy, though the flavour can be variable. It can be used in pies, pastries, cereals, jellies etc. The fruit can also be dried and used like raisins. The fruit is rich in vitamin C. The fruit is about 15mm in diameter. A tea is made from the leaves and dried fruit.

Medicine

Rating: 1

Astringent, pectoral.

Vitamin C: Plants good for their vitamin C content

Other

Rating: 2

A good bee plant. Acid soil. A purple dye can be made from the fruit and leaves. Landscape Uses: Border, Massing, Seashore. Special Features: Attracts birds & butterflies. Attractive flowers or blooms. Edible, wetlands plant.

How it is grown

Blueberries: In warmer areas grow Southern Highbush and Rabbiteye (low chill) varieties while in cooler areas and areas that experience frost grow Northern Highbush (high chill) varieties. Requires a moist but freely-draining lime free soil, preferring one that is rich in peat or a light loamy soil with added leaf-mould. Prefers a very acid soil with a pH in the range of 4.5 to 6, plants soon become chlorotic when lime is present. Succeeds in full sun or light shade though it fruits better in a sunny position. Requires shelter from strong winds. Hardy to about -25?c. Often cultivated for its edible fruit in America. It usually blossoms freely in Britain. Plants are at least partially self-sterile, more than one variety is required in order to obtain good yields of fruit. Dislikes root disturbance, plants are best grown in pots until being planted out in their permanent positions. leave the fruit on the shrub until the last minute, as the fruit is very acidic and will not ripen after being picked. Does not grow well with blackberries or raspberries. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus. The plant is heat tolerant in zones 7 through 1. (Plant Hardiness Zones show how well plants withstand cold winter temperatures. Plant Heat Zones show when plants would start suffering from the heat. The Plant Heat Zone map is based on the number of "heat days" experienced in a given area where the temperature climbs to over 86 degrees F (30?C). At this temperature, many plants begin to suffer physiological damage. Heat Zones range from 1 (no heat days) to 12 (210 or more heat days). For example Heat Zone. 11-1 indicates that the plant is heat tolerant in zones 11 through 1.) For polyculture design as well as the above-ground architecture (form - tree, shrub etc. and size shown above) information on the habit and root pattern is also useful and given here if available. The plant growth habit is multistemmed with multiple stems from the crown. The root pattern is flat with shallow roots forming a plate near the soil surface. The root pattern is stoloniferous rooting from creeping stems above the ground.

Propagating it: Seed - sow late winter in a greenhouse in a lime-free potting mix and only just cover the seed. Stored seed might require a period of up to 3 months cold stratification. Another report says that it is best to sow the seed in a greenhouse as soon as it is ripe. Once they are about 5cm tall, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a lightly shaded position in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of greenwood, May/June in a shady position in a compost that contains some peat. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 5 - 8cm with a heel, August in a frame. Slow and difficult. Cuttings of mature wood, harvested in November and stored in a fridge then planted in a frame in March. Layering in late summer or early autumn. Another report says that spring is the best time to layer. Takes 18 months. Division of suckers in spring or early autumn.

Best place to grow:

Habit: Shrub

Hardiness: 2-7

Growth: Medium

Soil: Light (sandy), medium

Shade: Semi-shade, no shade

Moisture: Moist

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

South Eastern Highbush blueberry, High-bush blueberry, Bleuet en corymbe

Synonyms

No synonyms are recorded for this name.