Highbush blueberry

Scientific name

Vaccinium corymbosum

Description

Highbush Blueberry is a deciduous shrub species that can grow about 3 m in height. The leaves are alternately arranged, elliptical shaped, dark green coloured, and have entire margins. The flowers are urn or bell shaped, white to light pink coloured, appear in drooping clusters, and bloom between May and June. The fruit are small, blueish black coloured berries, and ripen between July and August. The flowers are beneficial to pollinator species, like bees and butterflies. The fruits are also beneficial to wildlife species, like birds and small mammals. Highbush Blueberry produces attractive fall colours and the berries are edible to humans. This shrub spreads well and can be used to naturalize un-vegetated areas.

Planting conditions

Highbush Blueberry grows best in moist to wet conditions with full or partial sun exposure. It prefers well-drained, nutrient rich humus, loam, or sand soil types with an acidic pH level. It can tolerate acidity, wet soil, and periodic flooding. It is intolerant of alkalinity and shade. Mulching is recommended to keep roots cool and moist. Planting in sunny locations will increase the amount of flowers and fruit produced. This shrub can be naturally found in moist forests, marshes, swamps, bogs, and along stream or lake shorelines.

Details

• Plant height:
  • Max 3m
  • Any
• Moisture level:
  • Normal
  • Moist
  • Wet
  • Flood Tolerant
• Light conditions:
  • Full sun
  • Partial sun
• Soil type:
  • Sandy
  • Loamy
  • Humus
  • Rocky
• pH:
  • Acidic
  • Normal
• Depth:
  • Potted
• Eco Zone:
  • 4b
  • 5a
  • 5b
  • 6a
  • 6b
• Plant type:
  • Shrub
• Height:
  • 3 m
• Spread:
  • 3 m