Highbush Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum)
Height: 6 to 12 feet
Spread: 6 to 12 feet
Bloom Time: May
Bloom Description: White to Pink
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Suggested Use: Fruit and Wildlife
Tolerate: Wet Soils
Native to Jefferson County
For those wanting the flavor of store bought blueberries without dealing with the people in the grocery store.
The Highbush Blueberry grows in moist woods, swamps, and low areas throughout the eastern half of the United States. Highly prized for its fruit production the plant has been cultivated for years. The Mingo grew the plants and called it këhta'kéá'. although blueberries are self-fertile, planting multiple cultivars that bloom at the same time will lead to larger berries and a higher yield.
Both species of blueberries attract a diverse array of beneficial creatures. They are excellent for songbirds, providing food, cover, and nesting sites. They are so well loved by birds that it is strongly encouraged to net the shrubs when berries come on.
Their flowers are visited by an assortment of bees, including bumble bees, honey bees, and more than a dozen pollen specialist bees . Both species of blueberries are host plants to 237 different species of the Lepidoptera family of butterflies and moths. ■
