Vaccinium corymbosum Flamingo- American Blueberry

Vaccinium corymbosum 'Flamingo' is one of a kind. This brand-new variety stands out with its stunning foliage, curiously variegated with flamingo pink on a lime green background, with extraordinary autumnal shades. It boasts excellent performance in the garden. It is extremely productive, thanks to its parent 'Blue Crop', which is highly acclaimed by gardeners worldwide. It produces medium-sized blue-black berries that are delicious and slightly acidic. This variety is perfect for small spaces. It is resistant to cold, drought, and sclerotinia rot, making it very easy to grow in non-calcareous soil with minimal maintenance. 

Vaccinium corymbosum is native to North America. It belongs to the Ericaceae family, like heathers and rhododendrons. It is cultivated in gardens for its abundant and high-quality fruiting. It is an extremely cold-resistant bush with deciduous foliage that falls in autumn. It is easy to grow in very acidic, non-calcareous soil, in a partially shaded location, for example in the morning sun.

The 'Flamingo' cultivar is one of the most promising competitors at the Plantarium held in the Netherlands in August 2018. It forms a bushy plant with a graceful and upright habit, reaching an average height of 1.3m (4ft), with a spread of 80cm (32in) to 1m (3ft). The leaves are 2 to 3cm (1in) long, lanceolate, elliptical, entire, and serrated. They change from a soft yellow to a mild shrimp pink, randomly variegated with shrimp pink and light green at maturity, before turning into flamboyant shades in autumn. Flowering occurs in early May, in the form of small white bell-shaped flowers with faded red edges, 0.5 to 1cm long, gathered in pendant clusters 2 to 5cm (1 to 2in) long at the end of the stems. This is followed by numerous dark blue to black slightly flattened berries covered with bloom, 1cm in diameter. The berries ripen in July-August. Harvesting can be staggered according to the ripeness of the fruits. The blueberries are firm and sweet, with a pleasantly acidic flavour. The yield is excellent, with around 5 to 6kg per plant under good conditions. Blueberries are low in calories, but high in nutritional value. They are rich in vitamins A, B, and C, as well as calcium and iron. They contain pigments (anthocyanins) that improve night vision. Blueberries can be eaten freshly picked, in juice, jam, jelly, sorbet, or in pastries (pies, muffins). The fruit can be stored for about ten days after picking and can be frozen for longer preservation.

The 'Flamingo' blueberry requires the presence of another bush, of the same variety or a different one, to bear fruit. Plant 'Coville' or 'Lateblue' blueberries near it to ensure a good harvest. In ornamental gardens, 'Flamingo' is a truly charming bush, which will blend beautifully in ericaceous beds alongside rhododendrons, azaleas, hydrangeas, andromedas, heathers, and mayberry. It also grows very well in a large pot: monitor watering (with non-calcareous water) and regularly provide it with fertiliser.