Vaccinium pallidum (Lowbush Blueberry)

Vaccinium pallidum (Lowbush Blueberry) is a low-growing deciduous shrub forming a rounded mound of small, oval to ovate, medium leaves, 1-3 in. long (2-7 cm). The light green to blue-green foliage turns brilliant shades of scarlet or crimson in the fall. Charming pinkish-white tiny flowers appear in mid to late spring. They are pollinated by bumblebees and hummingbird moths. The blossoms give way to edible, sweet, blue-black berries that ripen in early-mid summer. The fruits can be eaten fresh or used to make pies and jellies. They are harvested commercially in Alabama, Georgia, Arkansas, and West Virginia. Songbirds, small mammals, ruffed grouse, and wild turkeys feast on them too. Native to North America, Blue Ridge Blueberry occurs naturally in dry woodlands, forests on slopes, clearings, and thickets. This rhizomatous shrub forms small to extensive colonies and can retard erosion on steep slopes. Both ornamental and edible, Lowbush Blueberry can be massed to form a small-scale groundcover. It is useful for pollinator gardens, edible landscaping, and naturalized areas.

• Grows up to 12-36 in. tall (30-90 cm) and 24-36 in. wide (60-90 cm).
• Performs best in full sun to part shade in acidic, dry to mesic, well-drained soils. Grows on sandy or gravelly soils, as well as on heavy clay. If the shade becomes too deep, fruit production will stop. Drought tolerant once established.
• Great as a groundcover, in shrub borders, or as a low hedge.
• No serious pest or disease issues.
• Native to central Canada and the central and eastern United States (from Maine west to Wisconsin and south as far as Georgia and Louisiana) plus the Ozarks of Missouri, Arkansas, southeastern Kansas, and eastern Oklahoma.