Abstract

The highbush blueberry belongs to the genus Vaccinium and is derived mainly from two North American species, V. corymbosum and V. australe. It is related to the blaeberry, V. myrtillus, and the cowberry or mountain cranberry, V. vitis-idaea, both of which are found growing wild on our hillsides and in open woodland under moist, acid conditions. However, in contrast to our native species, the highbush blueberry grows into a large shrub some five to six feet in height with a mass of white, bell-shaped flowers and darkgreen foliage. Some varieties have fine autumn colouring.