Common Name: Low Sweet Blueberry

General Information

Vaccinium angustifolium is a deciduous shrub growing from a vigorous, rhizomatous rootstock. It forms dense, extensive colonies of shoots around 10 - 30cm tall[, ].
This species is the most important commercial blueberry in the northeastern United States and Canada. It is grown commercially for its fruit in Ontario, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, and Maine, whilst a major portion of the crop is gathered from managed wild stands[]. The plant also has a range of medicinal uses, can be used in soil reclamation projects and is grown as an ornamental in gardens, where it can be used as a ground cover.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

North-eastern N. America - Manitoba to Newfoundland, south to Iowa, Tennessee and N. Carolina

Habitat

Dry open barrens, peats and rocks[]. Headlands, high moors, dry, sandy areas, peaty barrens, rocky outcroppings, pine barrens, oak parklands, regeneration forests, abandoned pastures and bogs; at elevations up to 1,900 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Shrub
Height	0.20 m
Pollinators	Insects, Self
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Semi-cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Vaccinium angustifolium is a very hardy plant, tolerating temperatures down to about -40°c[]. It is tolerant of a wide range of temperatures, succeeding in areas having a dry, sunny, continental climatic regime receiving a mean average rainfall of 500mm, as well as in areas having cloudy maritime climates receiving 1,560 - 1,950mm of rain[].
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[, ]. Prefers a very acid soil with a pH in the range of 4.5 to 6, plants soon become chlorotic when lime is present. Plants can tolerate a pH as low as 3.5[]. The average pH for 60 soils in which his species was found was 4.4, with a range of 2.8-6.6[]. .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[].
In the autumn, after the fruit harvest, it was common for native N. American people to burn the areas where the plants grew in order to create a favourable habitat. This practice is followed, though not always every year, in modern commercially managed wild stands. The fire stimulates new growth, it also creates sunny openings in the forest and edges that foster the rapid spread of nutritious herbs and shrubs that favour the huckleberries[, ]. Fruit
production typically declines as clones age - production often peaks 10 - 20 years after fire, just prior to canopy closure[1050.
The plant is also cultivated for its edible fruits, there are some named varieties[, ].
The plant succeeds in cold northerly locations such as Maine in N. America[] and in central Sweden. However, it is said to have little or no value as a fruit crop in Britain[].
The typical species is not as well known as its subspecies Vaccinium angustifolium laevifolium. House[].
Plants commence flowering and fruiting when about 4 years old from seed[].
The plant is somewhat self-fertile, though better crops are obtained through cross-pollination by insects, especially bees[].
Plants are very tolerant of environmental pollution, tolerating acid rain and apparently resistant to emissions produced by zinc smelters[].
Very tolerant of fire - the top growth may be killed but the plant soon resprouts from its roots[].
Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw, cooked or used in preserves etc[, , , ]. A very sweet pleasant flavour with a slight taste of honey[, , ]. Largely grown for the canning industry, it is considered to be the best of the lowbush type blueberries[]. The fruit can be dried and used like raisins[]. The fruit is about 12mm in diameter[]. This is the earliest commercially grown blueberry to ripen[].

A tea is made from the leaves and dried fruits[].

Medicinal

The fruit is a rich source of micro-nutrients and, in addition to being edible, is said to have many health benefits. It has a gentle laxative action and, if taken regularly, is said to improve the circulation, especially of the small blood vessels, which can help prevent eye problems such as cataracts and glaucoma. Other conditions that can benefit include ulcers, urinary tract infections, multiple sclerosis, chronic fatigue syndrome, fever, varicose veins and haemorrhoids[].

The dried fruit and leaves are used in the treatment of diarrhoea[].

The leaves are astringent, antiinflammatory, blood purifier. An infusion is used in the treatment of sore throats and other inflammations of the mouth or mucous membranes of the throat, as well as in the treatment of infant's colic[, , ].

An infusion of the roots has been used to induce labour[].

Traditionally, the smoke from burning dried blueberry flowers is inhaled as a treatment of insanity[, ].

The fruit is high in fiber and vitamin C. It also contains ellagitannins, flavonols such as quercetin and kaempferol, catechins, and phenolic acids. Other constituents include anthocyanidins and proanthocyanidins, beta-carotene, chlorogenic acid, glutathione, and alpha-tocopherol[].
The anthocyanidins and proanthocyanidins have antioxidant activity and promote blood circulation, especially of the small blood vessels. However, there is some evidence that when eaten as part of the whole fruit, they may not be well absorbed[].
Trials suggest that the antioxidant effects of blueberry extracts might have anticancer activity and potentially reduce normal oxidative cellular damage that occurs with aging[].
Ethyl acetate extracts of blueberry fruit inhibit ornithine decarboxylase, which is a key enzyme in tumor progression[].
Blueberry, like its relative, the cranberry, also appears to prevent bacterial adhesion to the bladder and bacterial colonization[]

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant may have potential use for rehabilitating certain types of disturbed sites. It is tolerant of metals and grows in stunted form on industrially damaged sites near Sudbury, Ontario. Plants have recolonized strip-mined areas in West Virginia and reclaimed mined peatlands of the Northeast USA. Rhizomes can sometimes aid in preventing soil erosion on steep slopes[].
The plant can form extensive, dense colonies, and so can be used as a fruiting ground cover[].
Low sweet blueberry is an important recolonizer in its native habitat. Its sprouts are prominent on disturbed sites such as clearcuts, burns, fields, and pastures. Cover is typically higher on fields derived from hayfields than those derived from woodlots]. The plant is an important seral species during the transition from field to forest in various eastern old-field communities[].

Other Uses

The plant has potential for use in breeding northern fruit-producing stock, and is well suited to small farms, since 2 - 4 hectares is sufficient to produce a significant quantity of fruit[].

The juice contains a high level of manganese and can be used as a contrast agent in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)[].

Propagation

Seed - it germinates best in a light position. 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[]. Germination takes place best at around 21°c[]. 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.
Seed can remain viable for up to 12 years when properly stored]1050].
Rhizome cuttings in early spring or late summer and autumn. Dig up the rhizomes and cut them into lengths of 10cm or
longer. Place the cuttings in vermiculite at 21°c. Once the roots are established and meristematic activity is initiated, the small cuttings may be moved to individual pots with a peat sand soil mixture (1:1) potting soil. The soil should be kept fairly moist. When the plants are of a desired size, they can be planted in areas with moist soils and partial shade[].
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[].