Scientific name: Vaccinium corymbosum
Family: ERICACEAE
Common names: “Blueberry” “high-bush blueberry” “swamp blueberry”
Plant Type: Deciduous shrub
Conditions:
Zone: 3-8
Light: Full sun – partial shade
Exposure: Sheltered
Soil: Acidic soil between 4.8 & 5.2 pH, organically rich
Moisture: Moist well drained
Aesthetic:
Plant Size: H 6″-12′ W
Leaf and Stem shape: Slightly leathery dark green leaves, sometimes with sharply toothed margins
Flower: Corymbs of lantern-like flowers with white or pink petals
Pruning: Prune after fruiting in winter or early spring, prune out wood older than 5 years in favour of 1-2 year shoots for increased yield
Maintenance: Low – medium, best to remove flowers from plants in the year of planting and in the following year so as to prevent fruit set and to encourage new vegetative growth
Landscape use: Farm, edible ornamental mixed bed, woodland garden, hedge
Propagate: By seed, cuttings, division of suckers
Pests & Disease: Infrequent disease problems include stem blight, root rot, anthracnose, cane cankers, mildew and botrytis.
Attracts birds and butterflies
Comments: Native to Eastern North America, large edible blueberries, used to make pies, muffins, jams and syrups, they are high in vitamin C and antioxidants, shrubs can be used nicely in ornamental gardens combined with rhododendrons and azaleas, although blueberries are self-fertile, cross-pollination produces the best fruit crop (larger berries and larger yields), if grown for fruit production, there are many excellent cultivars which should be considered rather than the straight species
Vancouver Island Grows 