Plant Details

Vaccinium corymbosum

Northern blueberry

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Explore the size, hardiness, soil, light, edible uses and harvest period of Vaccinium corymbosum.

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Common names

24 names · 16 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Highbush blueberry[1]
  • Northern blueberry
  • Northern highbush blueberry[2]
Other languages (15)
Dutch
  • Amerikaanse bosbes[2]
  • Blauwe bes
  • Trosbosbes[2]
French
  • Grande Myrtille[2]
  • Myrtille
  • Myrtille américaine[2]
+1 more nameShow fewer names
  • Myrtille arbustive[2]
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 北高丛蓝莓[2]
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 北方高叢藍莓[2]
Czech
  • brusnice chocholičnatá[2]
Danish
  • Amerikansk blåbær[2]
Estonian
  • kännasmustikas[2]
Finnish
  • pensasmustikka[2]
German
  • Amerikanische Heidelbeere[2]
Lithuanian
  • Aukštoji šilauogė[2]
Polish
  • Borówka wysoka[2]
Russian
  • Голубика высокорослая[2]
Slovak
  • čučoriedka chocholíkatá[2]
Spanish
  • Arándano[2]
  • Arándano azul[2]
Swedish
  • amerikanskt blåbär[2]
Sources & name notes (2)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Vaccinium corymbosum L. ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • Highbush blueberry (EN) — VernacularName.tsv, line 153451; taxon 7F7GJ.
[2] Vaccinium corymbosum — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Northern highbush blueberry — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 52740; Vaccinium corymbosum.
  • Myrtille arbustive — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 52740; Vaccinium corymbosum.
  • Grande Myrtille — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 52740; Vaccinium corymbosum.
  • Myrtille américaine — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 52740; Vaccinium corymbosum.
  • Amerikanische Heidelbeere — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 52740; Vaccinium corymbosum.
  • Amerikansk blåbær — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 52740; Vaccinium corymbosum.
  • kännasmustikas — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 52740; Vaccinium corymbosum.
  • Голубика высокорослая — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 52740; Vaccinium corymbosum.
  • Borówka wysoka — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 52740; Vaccinium corymbosum.
  • brusnice chocholičnatá — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 52740; Vaccinium corymbosum.
  • Aukštoji šilauogė — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 52740; Vaccinium corymbosum.
  • Arándano azul — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 52740; Vaccinium corymbosum.
  • Arándano — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 52740; Vaccinium corymbosum.
  • 北方高叢藍莓 — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 52740; Vaccinium corymbosum.
  • 北高丛蓝莓 — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 52740; Vaccinium corymbosum.
  • amerikanskt blåbär — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 52740; Vaccinium corymbosum.
  • Trosbosbes — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 52740; Vaccinium corymbosum.
  • Amerikaanse bosbes — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 52740; Vaccinium corymbosum.
  • pensasmustikka — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 52740; Vaccinium corymbosum.
  • čučoriedka chocholíkatá — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 52740; Vaccinium corymbosum.

General information

Scientific name: Vaccinium corymbosum
Accepted name (Kew): Vaccinium corymbosum L. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Ericaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Vaccinium (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Northern blueberry
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Shrub
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 1.83–3.66 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Spread: 1.83–3.05 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Growth rate: Moderate
Sources [3]
Foliage: Deciduous
Sources [3]
Growth habit: Erect, Multi-stemmed, Rounded

Whole-plant habit and form as described by NC State.

Sources [3]
Life cycle: Perennial
Sources [3]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b

USDA zones listed by NC State; winter survival does not establish reliable cropping.

Sources [3]
Soil moisture:
Well-drained, Moist, Occasionally Dry

Moisture and drainage conditions listed by NC State.

Sources [3]
Soil:
Clay, Loam (Silt), Sand
Sources [3]
pH:
Acid (<6.0)
Sources [3]
Light:
Full sun, Partial Shade
Sources [3]

Uses

Edible parts:
Leaves, Fruit, Tea
Edibility rating:
(4)
Medicinal rating:
(1)
Functions:
None

Description

Fruits: edible both raw and cooked. They are often sweet and juicy in flavor and can be used in various dishes such as pies, pastries, cereals, and jam. The fruits can also be dried and used as raisins. They are rich in vitamin C and have a diameter of about 15 mm. Tea can be made from both the leaves and the dried fruits.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 15/07
Harvest ends: 15/09

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 189682; name ID 2459130; Vaccinium L.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 188272; name ID 2458789; Vaccinium corymbosum L..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Vaccinium corymbosum

    Taxonomic data from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 2740103, ID 7F7GJ: Vaccinium corymbosum L. (accepted).

    Source checked on .

  3. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Vaccinium corymbosum — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: HeightSpreadGrowth rateFoliageGrowth habitLife cycleLightSoil moistureSoil textureSoil pHUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 6 ft. 0 in. - 12 ft. 0 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 6 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Light: Light
    • Soil moisture: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .