Lowbush Blueberry

Vaccinium angustifolium

Taxonomy

Division:: Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:: Ericaceae
Genus:: Vaccinium
Species:: Vaccinium angustifolium

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:: Perennial
Growth Habit:: Shrub , Subshrub
Height:: 2-3 ft
Light Requirements:: Full Sun, Part Shade, Shade
Drought Tolerance:: Medium
Bloom Months:: may, jun
Bloom Colors:: White
Food Forest:: Plant contains edible parts
Lawn Substitute:: Yes
Landscaping Shrub:: Yes

Native Range

United States: Connecticut, Delaware, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Canada: Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec

Keystone Species Ranking

Caterpillar Keystone:: ★☆☆☆☆ Based on number of butterfly and moth species using this genus as host plant (Source: National Wildlife Federation)
Bee Keystone:: ★★★★☆ Based on number of native bee species using this genus for pollen and nectar (Source: National Wildlife Federation)

Host Plant for Caterpillars

Abagrotis placida, American Swordgrass Moth (Xylena nupera), Andromeda Underwing (Catocala andromedae), Banded Tussock Moth (Halysidota tessellaris), Black cutworm (Agrotis ipsilon), Caloptilia vacciniella, ⚠️Canadian sphinx (Sphinx canadensis), Chain-lined geometer moth (Cingilia catenaria), dingy cutworm (Feltia jaculifera), distant dagger moth (Acronicta distans), Eueretagrotis perattentus, Eurois astricta, Eversmann's rustic (Actebia fennica), Forest Tent Caterpillar (Malacosoma disstria), Glena cognataria, gray swordgrass (Xylena cineritia), Great Brocade (Eurois occulta), Gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar), Hyppa xylinoides, Itame brunneata, Lacinipolia lorea, Norman's dart (Xestia normanianus), northern sallow (Brachionycha borealis), Pangrapta decoralis, pawpaw sphinx (Dolba hyloeus), Peppered Moth (Biston betularia), Pink-spotted Dart Moth (Pseudohermonassa bicarnea), Polia detracta, Polia purpurissata, Protolampra brunneicollis, Saw-winged Euchlaena Moth (Euchlaena serrata), Setaceous Hebrew Character (Xestia c-nigrum), Shadowy arches (Drasteria adumbrata), Sidus sallow (Eupsilia sidus), speckled cutworm (Lacanobia subjuncta), Syngrapha epigaea, Unicorn caterpillar moth (Schizura unicornis), Variable Owlet Moth (Phalaenostola metonalis), Variegated cutworm (Peridroma saucia), Xestia oblata, Brown Elfin (Incisalia augustinus), Interior Sulphur (Colias interior)

Reported Fauna Sightings

Bees: Common eastern bumble bee (Bombus impatiens), Common eastern bumble bee (Bombus impatiens), Tri-colored bumble bee (Bombus ternarius), Tri-colored bumble bee (Bombus ternarius), Two-spotted bumble bee (Bombus bimaculatus), Two-spotted bumble bee (Bombus bimaculatus) Butterflies:American Lady (Vanessa virginiensis), Brown Elfin (Callophrys augustinus), Brown Elfin (Callophrys augustinus), Horace's Duskywing (Gesta Evans), Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon), Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon)

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:: sandy, acidic, nutrient-poor soil
pH:: 4.2 - 5.2 (strongly acidic)
Drainage:: excellent drainage required
Moisture:: dry to moderate
Notes:: thrives in well-drained, acidic soils typical of pine barrens and rocky outcrops

Germination Information

Pre-treatment: Seeds are mixed with an equal amount of moist perlite or vermiculite in a sealable plastic bag. Water is added to moisten the mixture. The bag is then placed in a refrigerator or cold garage for at least 83 days. Seeds can be cold stored until planted for up to 3 years.

Establishment: Seeds are collected by hand from locally native plants within the eastern central Upper Peninsula. The plant flowers from May to July and the seed is harvested from July to August. The plant thrives in dry, sandy, open, and/or shaded ground with oaks, pines, and or aspen, but also in low places, including peatlands. It thrives after clearing or burning and forms colonies.

Source: npn.rngr.net