There are about 400 species of blueberry (Vaccinium sp., family Ericaceae), which are concentrated in the montane tropics but extend to all continents except Australia.
Blueberries are among North America’s few cultivated native fruits. They have become one of the most popular fruits for home gardeners for their ornamental value, pest resistance and delicious berries.
Blueberry varieties have been originated by hybridization and breeding of native wild species.
Northerners grow two species of blueberries: Vaccinium corymbosum, highbush and V. gustifolium, lowbush. Southern gardeners tend to raise V. ashei, rabbiteye blueberry.
Like other ericaceous plants, blueberries thrive in acid soils with a pH between 4.2 and 5.5. Although they will grow in other soil, it is in these that best growth and best fruit production occur.
All commercial blueberry species are deciduous and have a typical bush height at maturity of 1 foot in lowbush blueberry, 6 to 8 feet in highbush and 12 feet in rabbiteye blueberry.
Blueberry species
