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Plant Database

Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

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Vaccinium angustifolium (Lowbush blueberry)
Brundage, Stephanie

Vaccinium angustifolium

Vaccinium angustifolium Aiton

Lowbush Blueberry, Late Lowbush Blueberry

Ericaceae (Heath Family)

Synonym(s): Vaccinium angustifolium var. hypolasium, Vaccinium angustifolium var. laevifolium, Vaccinium angustifolium var. nigrum, Vaccinium brittonii, Vaccinium lamarckii, Vaccinium nigrum

USDA Symbol: VAAN

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), CAN (N), SPM (N)

A low, straggling shrub, usually 6 in. to 2 ft. tall and wide. Multiple stems; twiggy branches. Glossy foliage turns from red-green in spring to dark blue-green in summer to maroon-purple in fall. Small, white, pink-tinged, bell-shaped flowers are followed by edible blue fruit.

The berries are relished by wildlife and humans alike.

 

From the Image Gallery

10 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub
Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Fruit Type: Berry
Size Notes: Up to about 2 feet tall.
Leaf: Green
Autumn Foliage: yes
Fruit: Blue

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White , Pink
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr , May , Jun
Bloom Notes: White, sometimes pink tinged.

Distribution

USA: CT , DE , IA , IL , IN , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , NH , NJ , NY , OH , PA , RI , TN , VA , VT , WI , WV
Canada: MB , NB , NL , NS , ON , PE , QC , SK
Native Distribution: Lab. to Sask., s. to New England, DE, WV, OH, n. IL & IA
Native Habitat: Open, conifer woods; sandy or rocky balds & old fields

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Medium
Light Requirement: Sun , Part Shade , Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry , Moist
Soil pH: Acidic (pH<6.8)
CaCO3 Tolerance: Low
Soil Description: Acid, moist to droughty soils.
Conditions Comments: Susceptible to chlorosis due to alkalinity. Planting more than one plant is beneficial for fruit production.

Benefit

Use Wildlife: Berries are relished by most birds and mammals.
Use Food: Fruit edible.
Attracts: Birds

Value to Beneficial Insects

Special Value to Native Bees
Special Value to Bumble Bees

This information was provided by the Pollinator Program at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.

Propagation

Description: Most commonly propagated by softwood cuttings taken in spring. Vaccinium will also root from hardwood cuttings of unbranched shoots of previous season. Seeds may need to be stratified and should be sown on a slightly acid soil mix.
Seed Treatment: Stratify for 60-90 days at 41 degrees.
Commercially Avail: yes

Find Seed or Plants

View propagation protocol from Native Plants Network.

Mr. Smarty Plants says

Michigan native plants for shady, low traffic area
May 10, 2006
Hello, I am looking for a recommendation for a Michigan native groundcover. I live adjacent to the Rouge River watershed and want to buy the right thing. The location is shady, infrequently walked ...
view the full question and answer

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:AGCPAKAWCBEMPGPHIMWNCNEWMVE
Status: FACU FACU FACU FACU FACU
This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1 (Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). Click here for map of regions.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Native Plant Center at Westchester Community College, The - Valhalla, NY
Delaware Nature Society - Hockessin, DE
Mt. Cuba Center - Hockessin, DE

Web Reference

Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

USDA: Find Vaccinium angustifolium in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Vaccinium angustifolium in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Vaccinium angustifolium

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-03-01
Research By: TWC Staff

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