type :
Evergreen, Shrubs, Deciduous
sun exposure :
Varies by Species
water :
Varies by Species
Plant Details
Excellent ornamental shrubs with clusters of small, bell-shaped spring flowers and colorful, edible fruit that attracts birds. Species described here are shrubs ranging from ground covers to the height of a small treethat are grown for decorative, landscaping use; see Blueberry for relatives grown primarily for their edible fruit. All require rich, organic, acid soil. Good for woodland gardens.
sparkleberry, farkleberry
vaccinium arboreum
- Evergreen or deciduous, depending on winter cold.
- Zones MS, LS, CS; USDA 7-9.
- Native to the South and to southeastern and eastern Texas.
- Spreading plant to 1025 feet tall and about as wide, with shiny, dark green leaves to 2 inches long; leaves turn rich red and crimson in fall and persist through most of the winter.
- Fragrant white flowers; unpalatable, 14 inches black berries.
- Older shrubs have beautiful, exfoliating cinnamon-brown to gray-orange bark.
- Full sun or partial shade.
- Needs only moderate water.
creeping blueberry
vaccinium ashei
- See Blueberry
vaccinium corymbosum
- See Blueberry
vaccinium crassifolium
- Evergreen.
- Zones MS, LS; USDA 7-8.
- Native from southeast Virginia to South Carolina.
- Sprawling ground cover to 6 inches tall and 6 feet across, with leathery, dark green leaves just 12 inches long.
- Rosy red flowers in late spring; sweet, black berries to 12 inches across.
- Bloodstone has reddish new and mature leaves, red stems in winter.
- Wells Delight is particularly broad spreading and disease tolerant.
- Full sun or partial shade; regular water.
darrow's blueberry
vaccinium darrowii
- Evergreen.
- Zones LS, CS; USDA 8-9.
- Native to Florida, Georgia, Alabama.
- Grows to 2 feet tall in the wild, but can reach 5 feet tall and 3 feet wide in garden conditions.
- Very small blue-green leaves; pinkish new growth.
- White flowers are followed by small, sweet, black berries with a bluish bloom.
- Two named selections are 'John Blue' and 'Sebring'.
- Full sun; little to regular water.
elliott's blueberry
vaccinium elliottii
- Deciduous.
- Zones US, MS, LS, CS; USDA 6-9.
- Native from Florida to Virginia, west to Arkansas and Louisiana.
- Clump-forming, straggly shrub of variable size; grows from 6 to 13 feet tall and about 6 feet wide.
- Shiny, thin-textured green leaves to 112 inches long.
- Pink to white flowers often appear before leaf-out; dark purple-blue or black berries are less than 12 inches wide.
- Full sun or partial shade; moderate to regular water.
cranberry
vaccinium macrocarpon
- Evergreen.
- Zones US, MS; USDA 6-7.
- Native from Newfoundland to Minnesota, south to North Carolina.
- Creeping plant 26 inches high, spreading indefinitely by rooting stems.
- Narrow, 34 inches-long leaves are dark green in summer, turning coppery or purplish red in winter.
- Tiny pinkish flowers are followed by tart red fruit to 34 inches across in autumn.
- Commercial producers grow cranberries in bogsbeds that can be flooded to control weeds and pests, provide winter protection, and make harvesting easier.
- Gardeners can use cranberry as an attractive small-scale ground cover in full sun, with regular to ample water.
ground blueberry
vaccinium myrsinites
- Evergreen.
- Zones MS, LS, CS, TS; USDA 7-11.
- Native from Virginia to Florida and Louisiana.
- To 2 feet tall, more sprawling than erect.
- White to pink flowers; tiny blue-black or black berries.
- Full sun; moderate to ample water.
deerberry
vaccinium stamineum
- Deciduous.
- Zones US, MS, LS, CS; USDA 6-9.
- Native to eastern North America.
- Open, airy growth to a possible 1015 feet high and wide, although many mature specimens are half that size or even smaller.
- Twisted trunks and branches; peeling, reddish brown bark.
- Oval leaves to 3 inches long are green above, whitish underneath; they turn red and orange in autumn.
- Clustered white flowers have prominent yellow stamens and flaring petals.
- Purplish berries less than 12 inches across are edible but not always sweet.
- Full sun or partial shade; moderate to regular water.