Vaccinium fuscatum W. Aiton. Common name: Hairy Highbush Blueberry, Black Highbush Blueberry. Phenology: Feb-May; Jun-Aug. Habitat: Bogs, pocosins, swamps, also in uplands. Distribution: ME and NB to s. MI, south to sc. peninsular FL and e. TX.
Origin/Endemic status: Native
Taxonomy Comments: Vaccinium fuscatum is a diploid species, 2x=24 (Redpath et al. 2022).
Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, GW2, Il, K4, NE, Tn, Va, W, Camp (1945), Redpath et al (2022), Uttal (1987); = Vaccinium atrococcum (Gray) A.Heller — F, G, RAB, Tat, Camp (1945); = Vaccinium corymbosum L. var. atrococcum A.Gray — Mi; > Cyanococcus atrococcus (A.Gray) Small — S; > Cyanococcus fuscatus (Aiton) Small — S; > Vaccinium arkansanum Ashe — Tx; > Vaccinium atrococcum (Gray) A.Heller — S13; < Vaccinium corymbosum L. — C, Fl5, FNA8, NY, Pa, WH3, Luteyn et al (1996), Vander Kloet (1988); > Vaccinium fuscatum Aiton — S13; ? Vaccinium marianum S.Watson — G; Vaccinium fuscatum Aiton — (basionym)
Links to other floras: < Vaccinium corymbosum - FNA8
Wetland Indicator Status:
- Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACW
- Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FAC
- Great Plains: FACW
- Midwest: FAC
- Northcentral & Northeast: FACW
Heliophily ⓘ: 5
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Horticultural Information
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Height: to 15 ft
plant sale text: Black Highbush Blueberry is very similar in form and habit to Highbush Blueberry, the primary difference being the color of the berry. Also, Black Highbush Blueberry can tolerate drier soils than Highbush Blueberry. The fruits of Black Highbush Blueberry are small and black, but are quite tasty. The most attractive quality of Black Highbush Blueberry is its fall color. Its leaves turn a variety of shades of yellows, oranges, and reds. Given the right conditions, it is a fast grower and can become a robust shrub in relatively short period of time.
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native range: eastern United States