Vaccinium
Bilberry, Blueberry, Cranberry
- Height × spread
- 0.2m – 4m × 0.5m – 4m
- Position
- All conditions
Availability
Please ask in store about availability
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
These are trees and shrubs, many of which are low growing and some of which have edible fruits: the blueberry, cranberry, bilberry and huckleberry are in this genus. Many of these plants have ornamental properties with attractive flowers as well as fruits, and in some forms, good autumn colours. The flowers form little bells, often carried in clusters and in shades of white, pink and red. They can be ornamental, as in the large clusters of the cream rose-tipped elongated bell flowers of Vaccinium cylindraceum or the rosy clustered bells of Vaccinium floribundum. Blueberries, in addition to pleasant spring flowers and delicious fruits, take on rich autumn tints of red, orange and yellow before leaf fall. Some Vaccinium are used for ground cover, including the ground-hugging Vaccinium vitis-idaea. These all like acidic soil, and, in the case of blueberries, very acidic soil.
- Flower colour
- Green, Pink, Purple, Red, White
- Foliage colour
- Blue, Green, Grey
- Fruit colour
- Black, Blue, Purple, Red
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- No
- Shape
- Bell, Column, Dome, Fan, Horizontal, Round
- Height
- 0.2m – 4m
- Spread
- 0.5m – 4m
- Season of interest
- Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter
- Evergreen
- Evergreen
- Garden style
- Small scale garden, Shady court, Seaside garden, Prairie garden, Cottage garden
- Sun or shade
- All conditions
- Soil type
- Gravelly soil, Loam (normal), Poor soil, Sandy soil
- Soil pH
- Acid (ericaceous), Neutral
- Drainage
- Moisture retentive soil, Damp and wet soil, Well drained soil, Dry soil, Drought resistant
- Winter hardiness
- Varies, some are not hardy
- Borders & containers
- Borders
- Use for
- Ground cover, Structural, Bee attraction, Bird attraction
- Hazards
- No
Spring
Spring · Outdoors
Apply acidic mulch
Where soil is only just acidic, apply mulch with a high acidic content such as leaf mould, or mulch for ericaceous plants. Alternatively the plant can benefit from a feed of iron supplement (iron chelate) such as sequestrol.
Spring-Autumn · Outdoors
Water in dry periods
Established plants in the ground can cope with 7-10 days of dryness, and shrubs often manage 2 to 3 weeks. Water one section of the garden thoroughly each day rather than a little everywhere. Check plants in pots more often, especially in hot weather.
Summer
Summer - early · Outdoors
Apply slow release fertiliser
Apply a slow release fertiliser which is spread around the root area of the plants soon after they have come into growth. (Or apply a liquid feed at regular intervals throughout the growing season.)
This is a simple way to provide a nutrient boost as a single annual procedure.
Planting & general
Outdoors
Feed & mulch some rose varieties differently
To keep roses healthy and produce more flowers, feed during the growing season before and after flowering. Roses in containers should be fed more often than those planted in the ground, every two weeks from mid spring to late summer. Adding a mulch around the base of a rose will trap moisture and enrich the soil as it biodegrades.
Outdoors
Water with rain water
This plant needs rain water or soft water (the minerals in alkaline or "hard" water are harmful). This is especially important for plants in pots.
Planting
Prune some varieties
Some plants within this genus have additional requirements for pruning. It is best to look up your specific plant, or the species it belongs to for pruning guidance.
Found in
More Vaccinium
Vaccinium ashei 'Pink Lemonade'
Highbush blueberry, American blueberry
Vaccinium corymbosum
Highbush blueberry, American blueberry
Vaccinium corymbosum
Highbush blueberry, American blueberry
Vaccinium corymbosum 'Blue Crop'
Highbush blueberry, American blueberry
Vaccinium corymbosum 'Duke'
Highbush blueberry, American blueberry
Vaccinium 'Bluejay'
Vaccinium 'Earliblue'
Vaccinium 'Herbert'