Specimen record
Highbush Blueberry
Vaccinium corymbosum
Description
The wild ancestor of cultivated blueberries, highbush blueberry is a common native shrub of swamp edges and moist acidic woods. It produces dangling clusters of white bell-shaped flowers in May, followed by sweet blue-black berries in July. In autumn, the foliage turns brilliant shades of scarlet, orange, and crimson, making it one of the most colorful native shrubs.
Identification tips
- 1Clusters of small white to pinkish urn-shaped (bell-shaped) flowers in spring
- 2Blue-black berries with a whitish waxy bloom and a 5-pointed crown at the tip
- 3Alternate, simple, elliptical leaves with fine-serrated or entire margins
- 4Twigs greenish to reddish, with small warty dots (lenticels)
- 5Multi-stemmed shrub 1–3 m tall in wet acidic soils; brilliant red autumn color
Specimen & preservation notes
Press flowering branches in May and fruiting branches in July as separate specimens. Berries are juicy and will stain — place between waxed paper sheets. Autumn foliage color preserves fairly well. Include multiple stages for a complete life-cycle display.
Habitats
Collection calendar
| Wk | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ||||||||
| 2 | ||||||||
| 3 | ||||||||
| 4 |
Collection notes
Season check
Observed bloom also extends into April.
Flowering records: 160 iNaturalist observations, Massachusetts · Nearby: 859 observations within 25 km