(Blueberry)

From cranberry sauce to blueberry pie, the American dining table would not be the same without the fruits of Vaccinium species. Many agree that this large genus has about 450 species, however some taxonomists disagree over its number of species. Vacciniums are in Ericaceae, the same family as rhododendrons and azaleas. All species are naturally distributed across the Northern Hemisphere and in the mountainous regions of tropical Asia and Central and South America.

These woody plants...

(Lowbush Blueberry)

Pretty white flowers in spring, delicious blue-black fruits in summer, and brilliant leaves in fall make this northeastern North American native an excellent three-season ornamental. A deciduous, prostrate, very twiggy shrub, it produces small, lance-shaped, glossy dark-green leaves in mid-spring, just as clusters of pendent white urn-shaped flowers appear. Tartly sweet blue-black berries ripen in early and midsummer. Birds and numerous land animals compete with humans for the tasty berries. In autumn...

(Rabbiteye Blueberry)

A medium-sized to large semi-evergreen or deciduous shrub native to the southeastern and south-central United States, rabbiteye blueberry has given rise to many of the best blueberry cultivars for warm humid climates. It produces succulent spherical blue fruit in spring or early summer, preceded by small white urn-shaped flowers in early spring. The dull dark green leaves turn bright red in fall. This upright shrub often grows taller than head-high. It is self-sterile, requiring the presence of more...

(Powderblue Blueberry, Rabbiteye Blueberry)

A medium-sized to large semi-evergreen or deciduous shrub native to the southeastern United States, rabbiteye blueberry figures in the ancestry of many of the best blueberries for warm climates, including this popular cultivar. A 1978 introduction from North Carolina, 'Powderblue' bears medium to large light-blue fruits in late spring, toward the end of the rabbiteye season. The sweet-flavored fruits are less prone to cracking than are those of the similar 'Tifblue', and are excellent fresh or in...

(Rabbiteye Blueberry, Tifblue Blueberry)

Valued for its flavorful fruits and its tolerance of hot humid summers, rabbiteye blueberry is a medium-sized deciduous or semi-evergreen shrub native to the southeastern United States. Introduced in 1955 and still the most widely grown rabbiteye cultivar, 'Tifblue' bears white or pale pink flowers in early spring, followed in about 86 days by tasty pale blue berries. The bluish-green leaves turn red in autumn in colder zones.

This plant prefers moist, acidic, well-drained, peaty soil in full...

(Hybrid Blueberry)

An excellent variety for the lower Mid-Atlantic and upper Southeast regions of the United States, 'Blue Ridge' is a hybrid involving northern highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) and blueberry species native to the Southeast United States. This heat-tolerant cultivar produces masses of large flavorful light blue berries from mid- to late spring, weeks before the rabbiteye blueberry season. The tart, firm, succulent fruits are preceded by urn-shaped pinkish-white flowers. The attractive...

(Hybrid Blueberry)

An excellent variety for the lower Mid-Atlantic and upper Southeast regions of the United States, 'Cape Fear' is a hybrid involving northern highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) and blueberry species native to the Southeast United States. This heat-tolerant cultivar produces masses of very large light blue berrries from mid- to late spring, weeks before the rabbiteye blueberry season. The medium-firm, succulent fruits are preceded by urn-shaped pinkish-white flowers. The attractive...

(Chippewa Blueberry, Hybrid Blueberry)

Combining the more upright habit and larger fruits of northern highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) with the compactness and exceptional cold-hardiness of lowbush blueberry (V. angustifolium), this "half-high" cultivar bears quantities of large sweet light blue berries in early summer. The firm succulent fruits are preceded by small white urn-shaped flowers. The upright chest-high plants have oval dark green leaves that turn brilliant orange and red in fall.

Like...

(Northern Highbush Blueberry)

The sweet blueberries produced by this native, multi-stemmed shrub are a summer treat. Highbush blueberry is a large to medium-sized deciduous shrub native to eastern North America. In the wild, it can be found growing in diverse habitats from bogs to oak woods and dry barrens. Cultivated specimens grow well in sunny gardens with well-drained, acid soils and are valued for both their culinary and ornamental traits.

Simple green leaves emerge from the branches in mid-spring. These have smooth...

(Northern Highbush Blueberry)

Bearing loose, easily harvested clusters of very large pale blue fruits, this 1949 introduction remains popular for gardens and for pick-your-own and other small commercial operations. The juicy, firm, slightly tart berries ripen in mid-summer, toward the end of the blueberry season. They are excellent fresh or frozen. Small pinkish-white urn-shaped flowers precede the fruits. The oval glossy green leaves turn fiery colors in fall. Conspicuous yellow twigs provide winter interest. The head-high plants...