Vaccinium crassifolium

Vaccinium crassifolium, or the creeping blueberry, is a species of Vaccinium in the heath family. It is native to a portion of the Southeastern United States.

Description

An evergreen shrub. It is a low shrub that forms roots as it spreads. It grows 40 cm high and spreads 90 cm wide. The leaves are small and thick and leathery. They are 8-20 mm long and 3-10 mm wide. They have fine teeth along the edge. The flowers are very small and white with pink marks. They are in small clusters. The flowers are urn shaped. The fruit is purple-black. They are 1.2 cm across.

Edible Uses

The fruit can be eaten raw or cooked. The flavour is sweet but bland, and the fruit measures about 4mm in diameter.

Traditional Uses

The fruit are eaten.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

None known.

Distribution

It is a temperate plant. It grows in dry places and is often associated with pine trees. It suits acid soils. It suits hardiness zones 7-10.

Where It Grows

Australia, Britain, Europe, North America, USA,

Cultivation

Requires a moist but freely-draining lime free soil, preferring one that is rich in peat or a light loamy soil with added leaf-mould. Prefers a very acid soil with a pH in the range of 4.5 to 6, plants soon become chlorotic when lime is present. Succeeds in full sun or light shade though it fruits better in a sunny position. Requires shelter from strong winds. Not fully hardy in Britain, it is best grown in the milder areas of the country and is reluctant to flower in colder areas. Dislikes root disturbance, plants are best grown in pots until being planted out in their permanent positions. Occasionally cultivated for its edible fruit, there are some named varieties. 'Well's Delight' grows only 12 - 20cm tall, forming a nearly solid evergreen carpet and is recommended as an ornamental low-maintenance ground cover plant. The fruit has a slight aromatic flavour. 'Bloodstone' is another cultivar that has been recommended for ground cover. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus. An evergreen. A clumping mat former. Forming a dense prostrate carpet with a limited spread.

Propagation

Sow seed in late winter in a greenhouse using a lime-free potting mix, barely covering the seed. Stored seed may need up to 3 months of cold stratification. Alternatively, sow fresh seed in a greenhouse as soon as it is ripe. Prick seedlings out into individual pots once they reach about 5cm tall, and grow them on in a lightly shaded greenhouse position for at least their first winter. Plant out in late spring or early summer after the last expected frosts. Half-ripe cuttings, 5–8cm with a heel, can be taken in August and rooted in a frame, though this is slow and difficult. Layering can be done in late summer or early autumn — or in spring according to some sources — and takes 18 months. Suckers can be divided in spring or early autumn.

Other Uses

Plants can be used as ground cover. The cultivars 'Bloodstone' and 'Well's Delight' have been specifically recommended for this purpose.

Dangerous Lookalikes

This plant can be confused with the following toxic species. Always verify identification carefully before consuming any wild plant.

DEADLY

Deadly Nightshade

Atropa belladonna

Joan Simon from Barcelona, España

Safe

Creeping blueberry

Vaccinium crassifolium

(c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)

Deadly Nightshade: Tall herbaceous plant (1-2m), single shiny black cherry-sized berries, star-shaped calyx, large oval leaves, sweet but dangerous taste.

Creeping blueberry: Low woody shrub, berries in clusters with crown/remnant calyx ring, sweet taste.

Synonyms

References (11)

• Bot. Repos. 2: t. 105. 1800
• Brickell, C. (Ed.), 1999, The Royal Horticultural Society A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants. Convent Garden Books. p 1039
• Cundall, P., (ed.), 2004, Gardening Australia: flora: the gardener's bible. ABC Books. p 1453
• Facciola, S., 1998, Cornucopia 2: a Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, p 97 and p 99 (As Vaccinium sempervirens)
• Jackes, D. A., 2007, Edible Forest Gardens

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