Carolina Nature

Trees, Shrubs, and Woody Vines of North Carolina

Smooth Highbush Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum)

Plantae>Magnoliophyta>Magnoliopsida>Ericales>Ericaceae>Vaccinium corymbosum L.

Smooth Highbush is a common large blueberry found in the Mountains of North Carolina, rarely on monadnocks in the Piedmont.

Two additional species have been split from the old Vaccinium corymbosum: Vaccinium formosum (common, Coastal Plain) and Vaccinium caesariense (rare, Coastal Plain). The taxonomy of highbush blueberries is still quite confusing.

Grayson Co., VA 7/25/10.

The berries are deep blue with a glaucous bloom (and delicious). Those of similar species V. fuscatum and V. simultatum are blackish and lack the glaucous bloom.

This species is the most commonly cultivated blueberry.

Grayson Co., VA 7/25/10.

Smooth Highbush Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum)

Whiteside Mountain, Jackson Co., NC 5/14/06.

Smooth Highbush Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum)

New leaves are pale green. The leaves and twigs of this plant were glabrous (smooth), though this is not the case for all populations of V. corymbosum.

Whiteside Mountain, Jackson Co., NC 5/14/06.

Smooth Highbush Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum)

Whiteside Mountain, Jackson Co., NC 5/14/06.

The fruits ripen in summer.

Alleghany Co., NC 7/1/06.

Carroll Co., VA 7/3/06.

Pubescence on the stem may be in lines (as here) or lacking, with glabrous leaf undersides.

Carroll Co., VA 7/3/06.

Confusingly, the stems and leaf undersides may also be white-pubescent.

Alleghany Co., NC 7/1/06.

Bark detail.

Alleghany Co., NC 7/1/06.

Peeling bark of a larger stem.

Grayson Co., VA 7/25/10.

More information:
Virginia Tech Dendrology

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