Vaccinium corymbosum (Blueberry) in autumn

There are certain perennials and shrubs that are both ornamental and edible (Or ‘Edimental’ as Stephen Barstow might say) and therefore a no-brainer as far as I am concerned. Blueberries are one of those. I can’t understand why they aren’t used more in shrub borders or more experimental plantings. Particularly in what I would call woodland gardens, i.e gardens that combine a dense ground layer of herbs and shrubs and then sparse plantings of small trees.

Bluberries (Vaccinium corymbosum) are a relatively hardy no nonsense fruit to grow. To me the Bluberry stands on its own as a shrub in its own right, being relatively small and almost bonsai in habit. Particularly if you are concerned about fruit then pruning will be on your mind which will keep it in pretty good shape over the years. Before the fruits come there are the beautiful small bell flowers so characteristic of the Ericaceae family. In autumn the leaves turn a fiery red. Grow multiple bushes together to increase fruit set. Remember an ericaceous compost or something similar as like many plants in the Ericaceae, they tend to be adapted for acidic soils.

In future I will post about some experiments with the native European blueberry, Vaccinium myrtilus, or as I know it back home in Scotland ‘blaeberry’. This grows as a very small shrub and has proven difficult to cultivate in the garden. The fruits are much smaller and denser.

Vaccinium corymbosum throughout the year including fruit harvest