Common Name: Creeping Blueberry

General Information

Vaccinium crassifolium is a low-growing, evergreen shrub, producing trailing, thin woody stems with erect branches growing 7 - 20cm tall from lateral buds. The plant can spread freely (often by self-layering) and often forms extensive mats of growth[, , ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food. It is sometimes cultivated as a fruit crop, especially in gardens, and is grown as an ornamental, where it can be used as a ground cover.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

South-eastern N. America - Virginia to Georgia

Habitat

Sandy and peaty pinelands and barrens[]. Coastal plain, open pine flatwoods, pine barrens, pocosin ecotones and associated disturbed areas, road cuts, fire trails, mown roadsides; at elevations up to 200 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	0.10 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Vaccinium crassifolium is not fully hardy outside the milder regions of the temperate zone[, , ].
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. 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[].
Occasionally cultivated for its edible fruit, there are some named varieties. 'Well's Delight' grows only 12 - 20cm tall, forming a nearly solid evergreen carpet and is recommended as an ornamental low-maintenance ground cover plant[]. The fruit has a slight aromatic flavour[]. 'Bloodstone' is another cultivar that has been recommended for ground cover[].
The top-growth is killed by fire, but the plant usually resprouts from the roots[].
Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or cooked[, ]. The flavour is sweet but bland[]. Insipid[]. The black berries are around 6 - 8mm in diameter[, ].

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

Plants can form extensive, dense mats of growth. They can be grown as a ground cover, the cultivars 'Bloodstone' and 'Well's Delight' have been specially recommended[, ].

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[].