Common Name: Florida Evergreen Blueberry

General Information

Vaccinium myrsinites is an erect, much-branched evergreen shrub, often low-growing, and spreading to form extensive open colonies; it ranges in height from 15 - 100cm tall[, ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and a medicine.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

South-eastern N. America - South Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, Florida.

Habitat

Pinelands, scrub prairies and open woods in acid soils[]. Flatwoods, sand-pine scrub, oak-palmetto scrub, scrubby flatwoods, rosemary balds, mainly in dry sandy soils with full sunlight; at elevations up to 30 metres[, ].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	0.50 m
Pollinators	Bees, Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Vaccinium myrsinites is only hardy in the milder regions of the temperate zone, being able to tolerate occasional short-lived temperatures falling as low as around -8°c.
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[, ]. Plants are found mainly in dry, sandy, acidic soils in the wild[, ]. It occurs on poorly drained soils in swales but also grows on seasonally wet to well-drained sites[]. 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[].
Dislikes root disturbance, plants are best grown in pots until being planted out in their permanent positions[].
Plants can be very long lived - open colonies approximately 1 km across and at least 1,000 years of age have been reported[].
The plant often grows where fires occur naturally from time to time. These fires do not kill the plant, rather they maintain the ecosystem and help rejuvenate the plant by producing fresh vigorous growth from the rootstock. It is believed that fires contribute to the long-life of some colonies[].
Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or cooked in pies etc[, , , , ]. Sweet, juicy and very palatable[]. The black berries are around 7 - 9mm in diameter[].

Medicinal

The leaves are analgesic, febrifuge and ophthalmic[]. An infusion has been used in the treatment of colds, sun sickness, eye diseases, headaches, high fever and diarrhoea[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - sow late winter in a greenhouse in a lime-free potting mix and only just cover the seed[]. Stored seed might require a period of up to 3 months cold stratification[]. Another report says that it is best to sow the seed in a greenhouse as soon as it is ripe[]. Once they are about 5cm tall, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a lightly shaded position in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 5 - 8cm with a heel, August in a frame[]. Slow and difficult.
Layering in late summer or early autumn[]. Another report says that spring is the best time to layer[]. Takes 18 months[].
Division of suckers in spring or early autumn[].