The Dawes Arboretum

Common name: black highbush blueberry, downy swamp blueberry

Family: Ericaceae (heath family)

Synonym: Vaccinium arkansanum, Vaccinium atrococcum, Vaccinium corymbosum var. atrococcum

Distribution: e. North America

Hardiness: USDA Zone 3

Life form: Deciduous shrub/Subshrub

Comments: A medium to large, deciduous, shrub growing to 12' tall with an arching habit. Characterized by its yellow-green young stems with prominent warty bark. Flowers open in early spring before the leaves unfold as dense clusters of small bell-shaped flowers with white corollas tinged red. Foliage is alternate, simple, lance-shaped, 11/2-3" long. Black berries ripen in late summer. Fall color is usually a consistently good wine-red. Requires moist, well-drained, acid soil.