Vaccinium formosum, with common names highbush blueberry, southern blueberry, southern highbush blueberry, and swamp highbush blueberry, is a species of blueberry that is native to the Southeastern United States.
| Vaccinium formosum | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Ericales |
| Family: | Ericaceae |
| Genus: | Vaccinium |
| Species: | V. formosum
|
| Binomial name | |
| Vaccinium formosum Andrews
| |
Description edit
Vaccinium formosum is a deciduous shrub that grows to approximately 3.96-4.57 m (13–15 ft) tall.[1][2] The plant has ovaloid green leaves that are about 2.5-7.6 cm (1–3 in) in length.[2]
The flowers of the Vaccinium formosum bloom whitish-pink in a bell shape, and the fruit is a dark blue with a "glaucous bloom".[2] The plant has green stems that turn into woody growth as the stems age.[2]
Vaccinium formosum berries are edible in both raw and cooked forms.
Distribution and habitat edit
Vaccinium formosum is native to the Southeastern United States. It has been found in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Washington, D.C., Maryland, Delaware, and New York.[3][4] It grows in a variety of habitats including bogs, pine barrens, mires, ravines and mountain summits.[4]
Cultivation edit
The plant's primary habitats are in marshes, wetlands, and loamy/sandy soils.[5] It prefers low pH, acidic soils and will not fruit or grow well in basic conditions. The ideal conditions for this plant are in full sun; it can handle partial-sun though it may fruit less.[2] The harvest season of the edible fruit of the Vaccinium formosum is primarily late spring/summer.[2]
Further reading edit
Wiersema, J. H., León, B. (1999). World Economic Plants: A Standard Reference. United States: CRC-Press. ISBN 9780849321191, 0849321190
Hancock, J. F., Retamales, J. B. (2018). Blueberries. United Kingdom: CABI. ISBN 9781780647265, 1780647263
References edit
- ^ "Vaccinium formosum Swamp Highbush Blueberry, Southern blueberry PFAF Plant Database". pfaf.org. Retrieved 2021-05-13.
- ^ a b c d e f "Vaccinium formosum (Highbush Blueberry, Southern Blueberry, Southern Highbush Blueberry, Swamp Highbush Blueberry) | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox". plants.ces.ncsu.edu. Retrieved 2021-05-13.
- ^ "SEINet Portal Network - Vaccinium formosum". swbiodiversity.org. Retrieved 2021-06-04.
- ^ a b "Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - The University of Texas at Austin". www.wildflower.org. Retrieved 2021-06-04.
- ^ "Southern Blueberry - Encyclopedia of Life". eol.org. Retrieved 2021-05-13.