Vaccinium corymbosum Goldtraube- American Blueberry

The Blueberry Bush (Vaccinium corymbosum) Goldtraube is a variety of European origin, producing small fruits with a blue-violet color, similar in taste to wild blueberries. It is a vigorous and productive variety. The cultivated Blueberry Bush is a bush that can reach a height of 1.50m (5ft), growing in acidic soils. Planting ideally in autumn or all year round in frost-free conditions for a harvest in late July.

The Blueberry Bush belongs to the Ericaceae family, like heathers and rhododendrons. There are two types:

- the wild blueberry bush (Vaccinium myrtillus), a small bush of about 30 cm (12in), naturally growing in the undergrowth

- the cultivated blueberry bush (Vaccinium corymbosum), native to North America, grown in gardens. It produces larger and more numerous fruits and can reach a height of 1.50m (5ft).

The cultivated Blueberry Bush (Vaccinium corymbosum) is a very hardy bush, forming a dense upright shrub, reaching 1.50m (5ft) in height, with a spread of 80 cm (32in). The deciduous leaves are 2 to 3 cm (1in) long, lanceolate, elliptical, entire and dentate, medium green, turning bright orange in autumn. Flowering occurs in early May, in the form of small white bells with faded red edges, 0.5 to 1 cm (0.3in) long, clustered in pendulous clusters 2 to 5 cm (1 to 2in) long, at the tips of the stems. It is followed by large blue-violet berries, covered in bloom, slightly flattened, 1 cm (0in) in diameter. They ripen in summer, with the first harvest appearing from the 2nd year of cultivation. On the same plant, the harvest will be staggered according to the ripeness of the fruits. Blueberries are firm and sweet, with a pleasantly tart flavor. Blueberries are low in calories but high in nutritional value: they are very rich in vitamins A, B, and C, calcium, and iron. They can be eaten freshly picked, enjoyed as juice, jam, jelly, sorbet, or in pastries (pies, muffins...). Blueberries can be stored for about ten days after picking and can be frozen for longer preservation.

To ensure good pollination and fruiting, it is recommended to plant at least 2 to 3 Blueberry Bush plants, of the same variety or different varieties (including self-fertile varieties). In the garden, the Blueberry Bush will blend in perfectly with acid soil beds, along with rhododendrons, azaleas, hydrangeas, heathers...