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Vaccinium formosum

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Vaccinium formosum
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Ericales
Family: Ericaceae
Genus: Vaccinium
Species:
V. formosum
Binomial name
Vaccinium formosum
Andrews

Vaccinium formosum, with common names highbush blueberry, southern blueberry, southern highbush blueberry, and swamp highbush blueberry, is a species of blueberry that is native to the Southeastern United States.

Description

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Vaccinium formosum is a deciduous shrub that grows to approximately 3.96-4.57 m (13–15 ft) tall.[1][2] The plant has ovaloid green leaves that are about 2.5-7.6 cm (1–3 in) in length.[2]

The flowers of the Vaccinium formosum bloom whitish-pink in a bell shape, and the fruit is a dark blue with a "glaucous bloom".[2] The plant has green stems that turn into woody growth as the stems age.[2]

Vaccinium formosum berries are edible in both raw and cooked forms.

Distribution and habitat

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Vaccinium formosum is native to the Southeastern United States. It has been found in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Washington, D.C., Maryland, Delaware, and New York.[3][4] It grows in a variety of habitats including bogs, pine barrens, mires, ravines and mountain summits.[4]

Cultivation

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The plant's primary habitats are in marshes, wetlands, and loamy/sandy soils.[5] It prefers low pH, acidic soils and will not fruit or grow well in basic conditions. The ideal conditions for this plant are in full sun; it can handle partial-sun though it may fruit less.[2] The harvest season of the edible fruit of the Vaccinium formosum is primarily late spring/summer.[2]

Further reading

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Wiersema, J. H., León, B. (1999). World Economic Plants: A Standard Reference. United States: CRC-Press. ISBN 9780849321191, 0849321190

Hancock, J. F., Retamales, J. B. (2018). Blueberries. United Kingdom: CABI. ISBN 9781780647265, 1780647263

References

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