Blueberry
Vaccinium ashei Reade or Vaccinium corymbosum L.
Order - Ericales
Family - Ericaceae
Names:
Vaccinium
Ashei
Corymbosum
Blueberry because its fruit are blue berries.
Other Names:
Highbush Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum)
Rabbit Eye Blueberry (Vaccinium ashei)
Summary:
A deciduous shrub that produce blue berry fruits.
Description:
Cotyledons:
Two.
First leaves:
Leaves:
Stipules -
Petiole -
Blade -
Stem leaves -
Stems:
Flower stem -
Flower head:
Flowers:
Ovary -
Calyx -
Perianth -
Sepals -
Petals -
Stamens -
Anthers -
Fruit:
Seeds:
Roots:
Key Characters:
Biology:
Life cycle:
Shrub.
Physiology:
Has some frost tolerance.
Low chilling requirement similar to peach. Rabbit Eye types have a lower chilling requirement than Highbush types.
Needs 160 day growing season with an average temperature of 13-210C.
Sensitive to high temperatures and moisture stress.
Reproduction:
By seed and hardwood cuttings taken in late winter.
Self pollinating but fruit quality is usually better where cultivars are inter planted.
Flowering times:
Seed Biology and Germination:
Vegetative Propagules:
Hybrids:
Allelopathy:
Population Dynamics and Dispersal:
Origin and History:
Eastern North America.
Distribution:
ACT, NSW, NT, QLD, SA, TAS, VIC, WA.
Habitats:
Climate:
Temperate.
The best fruit is produced in areas with long days and cool nights. Rabbit Eye types will tolerate warmer areas than Highbush types.
Soil:
Prefers acid sandy loams with a high organic matter and pH of 4.5-5.5.
Rabbit Eye types prefer heavier soils than the Highbush types.
Plant Associations:
Significance:
Beneficial:
Edible fruit that are eaten raw or used in jams and wines.
Detrimental:
Toxicity:
Not recorded as toxic.
Legislation:
None.
Management and Control:
Thresholds:
Eradication strategies:
Herbicide resistance:
Biological Control:
Diseases include Grey Mould, Powdery Mildew and Alternaria.
Pests include Birds, Rabbits and Light Brown Apple Moth.
Related plants:
None.
Plants of similar appearance:
References:
Lazarides, M. and Hince, B. (1993). CSIRO handbook of economic plants of Australia. (CSIRO, Melbourne). #1253.1, 1253.2.
Reid, R.L. (1990) The Manual of Australian Agriculture. (Butterworths, Sydney). P170-171.
Acknowledgments:
Collated by HerbiGuide. Phone 08 98444064 or www.herbiguide.com.au for more information.