A common large blueberry found in the Mountains of North Carolina, rarely on monadnocks in the Piedmont. Two additional species have been split from the old Vaccinium corymbosum: V. formosum (common, Coastal Plain) and V. caesariense (rare, Coastal Plain). The taxonomy of highbush blueberries is still quite confusing.

Whiteside Mountain, Jackson Co., NC 5/14/06.

The leaves are pale green. The leaves and twigs of this plant were glabrous (smooth), though this is not the case for all populations of V. corymbosum. The fruits are blue and have a glaucous (whitish) bloom, unlike those of similar species V. fuscatum and V. simultatum, which are blackish and lack the glaucous bloom.

Whiteside Mountain, Jackson Co., NC 5/14/06.

Whiteside Mountain, Jackson Co., NC 5/14/06.

The fruits ripen in summer.

Alleghany Co., NC 7/1/06.

The berries are deep blue with a glaucous bloom.

This species is the most commonly cultivated blueberry.

Carroll Co., VA 7/3/06.

Pubescence on the stem may be in lines (as here) or lacking, with glabrous leaf undersides.

Carroll Co., VA 7/3/06.

Confusingly, the stems and leaf undersides may also be white-pubescent.

Alleghany Co., NC 7/1/06.

Bark detail.

Alleghany Co., NC 7/1/06.