Plant Library

Description:

A common shrub in the wild with pretty urn-shaped flowers in spring followed by extremely flavorful small blue berries in summer; the best tasting of all blueberries, moderately productive, so don't count on a feast from a few plants; unequivocally hardy

Edible Qualities

Lowbush Blueberry is a small shrub that is typically grown for its edible qualities. It produces clusters of blue round berries which are usually ready for picking in mid summer. The berries have a tart taste and a firm texture.

The berries are most often used in the following ways:

• Fresh Eating
• Cooking
• Baking
• Preserves

Features & Attributes

Lowbush Blueberry features dainty clusters of white bell-shaped flowers with shell pink overtones hanging below the branches in mid spring. It has dark green deciduous foliage. The oval leaves turn an outstanding scarlet in the fall. It features an abundance of magnificent blue berries in mid summer.

This is an open spreading deciduous shrub with a spreading, ground-hugging habit of growth. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other landscape plants with less refined foliage. This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and usually looks its best without pruning, although it will tolerate pruning. It is a good choice for attracting birds to your yard. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Aside from its primary use as an edible, Lowbush Blueberry is sutiable for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• Groundcover
• Naturalizing And Woodland Gardens
• Orchard/Edible Landscaping

Planting & Growing

Lowbush Blueberry will grow to be about 12 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 12 inches. It tends to fill out right to the ground and therefore doesn't necessarily require facer plants in front. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 20 years. While it is considered to be somewhat self-pollinating, it tends to set heavier quantities of fruit with a different variety of the same species growing nearby.

This shrub is typically grown in a designated area of the yard because of its mature size and spread. It performs well in both full sun and full shade. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. It is very fussy about its soil conditions and must have sandy, acidic soils to ensure success, and is subject to chlorosis (yellowing) of the foliage in alkaline soils. It is quite intolerant of urban pollution, therefore inner city or urban streetside plantings are best avoided, and will benefit from being planted in a relatively sheltered location. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This species is native to parts of North America.