Vaccinium corymbosum - Highbush Blueberry
6-12' × 8-12' | White to pinkish bell-shaped blooms, spring | Upright, multi-stemmed shrub | Full sun to part shade, moist, highly acidic soils | Exceptional wildlife, pollinator, and edible value
Native to the acidic bogs, swamps, and woodland edges of the Eastern and Southeast US, Vaccinium corymbosum is a multi-season standout. It thrives in organically rich, well-drained areas but strictly requires highly acidic soil (pH 4.5 to 5.5) and consistent moisture to establish deeply.
Clusters of delicate, urn-shaped white to pale pink flowers emerge in spring, providing an essential early nectar source for bumblebees. Spent blooms give way to sweet, edible blue berries in mid-summer that are highly prized by humans and songbirds alike. Small, glossy, dark green leaves have a smooth texture, reliably turning a spectacular, blazing display of fiery red, orange, and purple in the autumn. Features attractive, shredding, reddish-brown bark on older stems and vibrant yellow-to-red twigs on new growth, providing striking visual interest in the winter landscape.
Highbush Blueberry makes a great fruiting hedge or specimen plant thanks to its upright stature, charming spring flowers, and dense foliage that erupts into one of the best fall color displays of any native shrub. Includes excellent fruiting cultivars like 'Duke' (early ripening), 'Bluecrop' (mid-season, highly productive), and 'Jersey' (late season, tall growth).
Larval Host for:
Brown Elfin Callophrys augustinus
Striped Hairstreak Satyrium liparops
Huckleberry Sphinx Paonias astylus
Various Datana Moths Family Notodontidae
(Note: If planting for fruit production, always plant at least two different cultivars that bloom at the same time to ensure cross-pollination and a larger berry yield!)
Specifications
| Plant Size | #3, #1, #5 |
| Variety | Duke, Bluecrop, Jersey |
| Tags | |
|---|---|
| Tags | |