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highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum)

Vaccinium corymbosum is an upright, multi-stemmed deciduous shrub and a perennial deciduous plant.

LightIt grows in full sun to partial shade, with better fruiting in abundant sunlight.
WaterIt needs consistently moist conditions with good drainage, has low drought tolerance, and is suited to moist but well-drained soil.
TemperatureSources differ, with limited evidence indicating a minimum temperature of about -25 °C.
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Overview

Vaccinium corymbosum is an upright, multi-stemmed deciduous shrub and a perennial deciduous plant.

Origin and habitat

It is native to North America, mainly eastern Canada and the eastern and southern United States, with its native range described as extending from around Ontario and Nova Scotia south to Florida and Texas. It naturally occurs in moist, acidic forests and open areas, as well as swamps, peatlands, sandy margins of lakes and streams, pine barrens, and mountain forests. It is adapted to climates ranging from cold parts of eastern North America to the southern United States, favors moist conditions, and has some cold tolerance.

Characteristics

Sources differ on mature height, placing it at about 150–370 cm, while mature spread is 150–370 cm; growth is slow to moderate. The simple leaves are oblong to elliptic and dark green to green, turning bright red, orange, yellow, or purple in autumn. The small white to pale pink flowers are bell-shaped, urn-shaped, or nearly cylindrical and urn-shaped, and flowering occurs in spring. Sources differ in descriptions of the fruit; it is a round blue to blue-black berry that may change from white through reddish purple to blue as it ripens, with flesh that may be white.

Light

It grows in full sun to partial shade, with better fruiting in abundant sunlight.

Watering

It needs consistently moist conditions with good drainage, has low drought tolerance, and is suited to moist but well-drained soil.

Temperature and dormancy

Sources differ, with limited evidence indicating a minimum temperature of about -25 °C.

Growing medium and mounting

It requires acidic, lime-free soil that stays moist while draining well, and loamy or sandy soil can be used; sources differ on the suitable acidity range.

Common problems

It is reported to be affected by scale insects, whiteflies, leafhoppers, leaf-rolling caterpillars, and bud mites, while deer may also browse the plant. It is reported to develop stem and twig blights, leaf diseases, Exobasidium leaf and fruit spot, Botrytis flower and fruit rots, anthracnose fruit rot, and mummy berry disease. Lime or high-calcium conditions are unsuitable, and lime in the soil may cause chlorosis; its low drought tolerance means unsuitable moisture conditions may also cause growth problems. It has low drought tolerance, does best away from strong winds in a more sheltered position, and has relatively strong cold tolerance.

Identification

Vaccinium corymbosum is distinguished as an upright, multi-stemmed deciduous shrub with bell-shaped to urn-shaped white or pale pink flowers, blue to blue-black berries, and conspicuous red, purple, and other autumn leaf colors.

Photos

Vaccinium corymbosum
📷 The original Uploader was Oven Fresh at English Wikipedia · Public domain · source
Vaccinium corymbosum
📷 unknown · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Vaccinium corymbosum
📷 Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded b · CC BY-SA · source

Sources