Hillside Blueberry
Vaccinium pallidum
native
Other Names:
Blue Ridge Blueberry, Eastern Lowbush Blueberry, Late Lowbush Blueberry, Early Lowbush Blueberry
Hillside Blueberry is a common native deciduous shrub that grows throughout Virginia. It is in the same genus as Deerberry and species that produce cranberries and huckleberries. It is found in many types of habitats, including on disturbed sites such as roadsides and abandoned fields. Many birds and animals eat the fruits. The flowers are cross-pollinated by a number of different types of bees, and numerous caterpillars, beetles, and other insects eat the leaves. Hillside Blueberry usually does not grow to be more than 3 feet tall. Another name for it is the Lowbush Blueberry. A similar species called the Highbush Blueberry (Vaccinium Corymbosum) and some of its hybrids are grown for commercial purposes. The United States now produces more than a quarter of a million tons of blueberries per year, and world production exceeds half a million tons.
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