How to Grow and Care for Blueberries

Highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) is a type of blueberry plant native to the United States and Canada. Highbush blueberry is the most common source of commercially grown blueberries in North America. In the wild, these berries also provide a food source to small animals.

Vaccinium virgatum is commonly known as rabbiteye blueberry as it's a species of blueberry. The plant itself is a deciduous shrub that can grow up to 91 to 183 cm tall with a spread of up to 91 cm. The spirally-arranged leaves develop into dark green and tend to be 8 cm long. It bears berries as fruit which is often 5 mm in diameter. The berries this plant produces are edible and routinely used for sauces and syrups.

Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) is a low-growing shrub indigenous to Eurasia. Its dark blueberries are edible and can be consumed raw or made into jams, jellies, and pies. In France and Italy, people use these berries as a flavorful base for liqueurs and desserts like sorbet.

Farkleberry (Vaccinium arboreum) is a deciduous shrub that grows from 3.5 to 8 m tall. Its fragrant tiny bell-shaped flowers blossom from spring to summer followed by shiny inedible bluish-black berries. The dark green leaves of this small tree turn deep red in fall. It thrives in partial shade and attracts butterflies birds and mammals.

A prized fruit in summer, evergreen huckleberry is native to the Western Pacific United States and British Columbia. The small, round fruit is similar in taste to a blueberry but with a more intense and sweet flavor. This makes them a perfect choice for jams, jellies, and syrups. The berries are also a favorite of birds and other wildlife, including bears.