How to Identify Blueberry Plants
Blueberry plants belong to the genus Vaccinium of the Ericaceae, or Heath, plant family. There are over 450 plants in the Vaccinium genus. Blueberries are cultivated in all regions of North America except in the American Southwest and in the extreme northern Arctic regions. Commercial blueberry cultivars are hybrids of native varieties which have been crossbred to improve desirable characteristics such as fruit yield and size, length of growing season, resistance to disease and ease of harvest. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Identify blueberry plants by geographical region. There are three regional categories of blueberry plants native to North America: Lowbush, Northern Highbush and Southern Rabbiteye. Lowbush plants (Vaccinium angustifolium, Vaccinium nigrum and Vaccinium myrtilloides) range from the New England states and the maritime Canadian provinces in the east, to Minnesota and Manitoba in the west, and north to the Arctic. Northern Highbush plants (Vaccinium corymbosum) originated in eastern North America and have spread to California and the Pacific Northwest. Southern Rabbiteye plants (Vaccinium ashei) grow in the southern United States from Florida to Texas.
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Identify blueberry plants by leaf characteristics and bush habit. The leaves of blueberry plants are elliptically shaped and range in size from 1 to 4 inches in length. Identify Lowbush varieties by their compact, ground-cover shrubs varying in height from 4 to 24 inches and with a spread of up to 3 feet. Identify the angustifolium and nigrum species by their smooth, dark gray-green leaves with slightly serrated edges and by their smooth stems that range in color from tan to red. Identify the myrtilloides species by its light green leaves whose edges curl slightly downward and by the fuzzy "velvet" that covers the stems and the underside of its leaves. Identify Northern Highbush varieties by their upright bushes varying in height from 3 to 8 feet with a spread of 5 to 7 feet. The leaves of Northern Highbush varieties are smooth, dark green and shiny. Identify Southern Rabbiteye varieties by their upright bushes varying in height from 5 to 15 feet with a spread of up to 10 feet. The leaves of Southern Rabbiteye varieties are smooth, bright green and slightly waxy in appearance.
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Identify blueberry plants by blossom shape and color. Look for bell-shaped blossoms in the spring and early summer months. Identify angustifolium and nigrum by their blossoms which vary from white to pale pink. Identify myrtilloides by their greenish-white blossoms that may have a slight red tinge. The blossoms of Northern Highbush plants are clustered and range in color from pure white to variegated white and pink. The tops of Southern Rabbiteyes' white blossoms have light pink and blue caps.
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Identify blueberry plants by fruit color and size. The fruit of blueberry plants have blue-hued berries with a small fringed calyx at the base of the fruit. The berries of Lowbush varieties are roughly the size of small peas when ripe. Ripe angustifolium berries have a dark blue color but may appear a lighter, powdery blue due to a waxy coating. Ripe nigrum berries have a blue-black color but do not have the waxy coating and tend to be slightly larger than angustifolium berries. Ripe myrtilloides berries have a bright blue color, also have a waxy coating, but tend to be slightly smaller than angustifolium berries. The berries of Northern Highbush varieties range in size from large peas to small grapes. The berries of Southern Rabbiteye varieties range in size from medium to large peas. The berries of Northern Highbush and Southern Rabbiteye varieties are both bright blue and both have a waxy coating.
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Identify blueberry plants by the color of their fall foliage. Look for vibrant foliage ranging from deep red-orange to dark burgundy in the late summer and autumn months.
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Tips & Warnings
Take photos of blueberry plant varieties that you identify for future reference.
Do not eat any wild berries that you cannot positively identify as safe for consumption.
