| Vaccinium corymbosum Northern Highbush Blueberry | |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Asterids |
| Order: | Ericales |
| Family: | Ericaceae |
| Genus: | Vaccinium |
| Species: | V. corymbosum |
| Binomial name | |
| Vaccinium corymbosum L. 1753 | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
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Vaccinium corymbosum, the northern highbush blueberry, is a North American species of blueberry which has become a food crop of significant economic importance. It is native to eastern Canada and the eastern and southern United States, from Ontarioeast to Nova Scotia and south as far as Florida and eastern Texas. It is also naturalized in other places: Europe, Japan, New Zealand, the Pacific Northwest of North America, etc.[2][3][4][5] Other common names include blue huckleberry, tall huckleberry,swamp huckleberry, high blueberry, and swamp blueberry.[6]
Vaccinium corymbosum is a deciduous shrub growing to 6–12 feet (1.8–3.7 m) tall and wide. It is often found in dense thickets. The dark glossy green leaves are elliptical and up to 5 centimetres (2.0 in) long. In autumn, the leaves turn to a brilliant red, orange, yellow, and/or purple.[4][7]
The flowers are long bell- or urn-shaped white to very light pink, 0.33 inches (8.4 mm) long.[4][7]
The fruit is a 0.25–0.5 inches (6.4–12.7 mm) diameter blue-black berry.[4] This plant is found in wooded or open areas with moist acidic soils.[8][7]
In natural habitats it is a food source for native and migrating birds, bears, and small mammals.
The berries were collected and used in Native American cuisine in areas where Vaccinium corymbosum grew as a native plant.[9]
Vaccinium corymbosum is the most common commercially grown blueberry in present day North America.
It is also cultivated as an ornamental plant for home and wildlife gardens and natural landscaping projects.[8][10] The pH must be very acidic (4.5 to 5.5).[4]
Some common cultivar varieties are listed here, grouped by approximate start of the harvest season:[11]
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The cultivars Duke[12] and Spartan[13] have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
Some named Southern highbush blueberry are hybridized forms derived from crosses between V. corymbosum and Vaccinium darrowii, a native of the Southeastern U.S. These hybrids and other cultivars of V. darrowii (Southern highbush blueberry) have been developed for cultivation in warm southern and western regions of North America.[14][15]
