Plant Family: Ericaceae
Growth Form: Tall upright shrub to 4 meters high, the branches becoming crooked with age.
Leaves: Alternate, simple, elliptic to ovate, 4 – 8 cm long, green and smooth above and below, margins usually entire, or occasionally very finely toothed.
Bark: Brown and shreddy, new stems green.
Flowers: Bright white, cylindrical or barrel-shaped, to 12 mm long, in tight clusters along the upper stems and at the twig tips, May to June.
Fruits: Green berries that ripen to dark blue, with a bloom, to 1 cm or more in diameter, July to September.
Habitat: Bogs, swamps, shores, low damp woods, sometimes in drier habitats that have deep soils.
Range: Throughout New England, ranging south to the Gulf Coast.
Similar Species: Black Highbush Blueberry (V. fuscatum), found in the same habitat, has leaves that are hairy beneath and shiny black fruits that lack bloom. The wetland habitat and tall stature should separate both species of Highbush Blueberry from others in the genus.
Comments: Highbush Blueberry is also grown commercially, and several different cultivars have been developed for the garden.
