Velvetleaf Blueberry

Scientific name

Vaccinium myrtilloides

Description

The Velvet Leaved Blueberry is a deciduous shrub species that can grow up to 0.5 m in height. This plant may also be known by the common names: Velvetleaf Huckleberry or Sourtop Blueberry. The leaves are dark green, alternately arranged, about 5 cm long, have smooth edges, are elliptical shaped, and have fine hairs on the surface. The flowers bloom in June, are hanging, urn shaped, pink to white coloured, and the petal tips curl back. These flowers produce round dark blue to purple coloured berries that are edible to humans. The fruit and flowers of Velvet Leaved Blueberry are beneficial to many wildlife species, like birds and bears, as well as pollinator species, like bees and butterflies.

Planting conditions

Velvet Leaved Blueberry grows best in normal to moist conditions with full or partial sun exposure. It prefers to grow in sand or loam soil type with normal or acidic pH level. The shrub can tolerate shade, acidity, low nutrient soil, and can grow well on disturbed/cleared sites. This plant is naturally found in forests, forest edges, meadows, or around marshes/ swamps.

Details

• Plant height:
  • Max 1.5m
  • Max 2m
  • Max 3m
  • Any
• Moisture level:
  • Dry
  • Normal
  • Moist
  • Wet
• Light conditions:
  • Full sun
  • Partial sun
• Soil type:
  • Sandy
  • Loamy
  • Clay
  • Humus
  • Rocky
• pH:
  • Acidic
  • Normal
• Depth:
  • Potted
  • Bareroot
• Eco Zone:
  • 1a
  • 1b
  • 2a
  • 2b
  • 3a
  • 3b
  • 4a
  • 4b
  • 5a
  • 5b
• Plant type:
  • Shrub
• Height:
  • 0.5 m
• Spread:
  • 2 m