Highbush blueberry
Vaccinium corymbosum

Family: Ericaceae

What it is like

A spindly shrubby bush. It grows to 2 m high. It spreads 1.5 m wide. It can send out suckers. It loses its leaves during the year. The leaves are oval and pointed. They are 2.5-8 cm long. The leaves turn rich red and orange in autumn. Flowers normally develop before leaves. The flowers are in short pink or white racemes. They are tube shaped. The fruit are large black berries. They are 12 mm across. They are edible.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It needs heavy frost to enhance the flavour of the fruit. Plants need cold treatment during winter. Some varieties need 750 hours below 7°C. Without a cold treatment plants can remain evergreen and produce light crops of fruit throughout the year. They can grow in very acid soils with pH of 4.2-4.5. In Hobart Botanical gardens. It suits hardiness zones 2-9.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, Brazil, Britain, Canada, Colombia, Chile, Denmark, Europe, Finland, Germany, Himalayas, Japan, Lithuania, Mediterranean, Netherlands, New Zealand, North America, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Scandinavia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Spain, Switzerland, Tasmania, USA (country/location of origin)

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten as a dessert fruit and also in fruit salads, juices, syrups and other foods and drinks. They are used in jams, tarts and muffins. They can be frozen.

It is cultivated. Over 40,000 tons are produced each year.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants are grown from cuttings treated with hormone. They can be grown by division. They can be grown from seed.

Plants from cuttings bear 2 years after planting out. Seedling bushes take 3-4 years.

Its other names

Local names

American blueberry, Blueberry, Huckleberry, Mirtilo-highbush, Swamp blueberry

Synonyms

Vaccinium constablaei A. Gray;