Wild Guide: Lowbush Blueberry

Status

Native shrub with edible fruits

Size

Height: 6 inches to 3 feet

Distribution

Mostly south of the Missouri River

Lowbush blueberries are low, stiffly branching shrubs, often growing in extensive colonies. They flower from April to May and sometimes reflower in October. The flowers are white to greenish white, often pinkish-tinged or red, about ¼ inch long, and cylinder-shaped. Fruits appear from late June to August, ripening throughout a long period. Each berry is globe-shaped and about ¼ inch across, dull dark blue to almost black with a faint whitish coating.

Ecosystem Connections

Because the berries ripen over long periods, a colony of lowbush blueberries is a reliable, long-term food source for birds, small mammals, and pollinators. American robins, blue jays, tanagers, foxes, chipmunks, and mice, just to name a few, may eat the berries, while white-tailed deer and rabbits browse the leaves and twigs. The flowers attract bumblebees, and they are rewarded with both nectar and pollen.

Human Connections

Lowbush blueberries are prized for their sweet, edible berries. They ripen over a long period, making the berries more difficult to collect in large quantities at any one time. The berries can be eaten raw or cooked and used in jams, pies, muffins, and juices, much like the blueberries for which we are most familiar.