Vaccinium corymbosum North Blue- American Blueberry

The Vaccinium corymbosum North Blue is a mid-season American blueberry variety, well adapted to cold climates due to its remarkable hardiness and relatively fast growth compared to other species. Flowering in April-May, it produces fairly large, firm, and sweet dark blue berries in July. Its fairly dark green foliage takes on sumptuous orange and red hues in autumn. Plant it in acidic, non-limestone, moist soil, in a sunny or semi-shaded location. For all blueberries, fruiting is even more abundant if another variety is planted nearby.

The Blueberry belongs to the Ericaceae family, mainly known in gardens for its many ornamental genera. In addition to the well-known Rhododendrons and Heathers, it also includes many other valuable plants such as Pieris, Kalmia, Enkianthus, Gaultheria, and Oxydendrum. But there are also edible fruit-bearing Ericaceae, mainly the Arbutus and the Vaccinium genus, which includes blueberries, cranberries, and lingonberries. The shrubby blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum), native to North America, is the one cultivated in gardens for its abundant and high-quality fruiting. It is an extremely cold-resistant bush with deciduous foliage that falls in autumn.

The cultivar 'North Blue' is particularly recommended for cold climates. It is extremely hardy, tolerating temperatures as low as -30°C to -35°C without any problem. It is also highly appreciated for its relatively fast growth compared to other varieties. Its annual shoots grow to about 20 to 50 cm (8 to 20in), and at maturity, it forms a bush about 1.40 or 1.50 m (5ft) tall and 1 m (3ft) wide. Its medium to dark green foliage takes on magnificent autumnal colors in shades of orange and red, rivaling purely ornamental plants.
Flowering takes place in April-May, in the form of small white bell-shaped flowers, 0.5 to 1 cm (0in) long, grouped in pendulous clusters at the ends of the stems. It is followed by numerous dark blue berries, quite large, which ripen in July. These fruits are firm and juicy, sweet with a slight acidity. Blueberries are low in calories but highly nutritious: they are rich in vitamins A, B, and C, calcium, and iron. They contain pigments (anthocyanins) that improve night vision. Blueberries can be consumed fresh, 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.

'North Blue' is a good variety that you can plant alongside other varieties of Vaccinium corymbosum to promote cross-pollination for better yields. You can also combine it in a flower bed with purely ornamental plants, as its delicate bell-shaped flowers and especially its flamboyant autumn colors are worth seeing. You can plant Calluna vulgaris Silver Knight at its base, a summer heather that is also very hardy and requires acidic soil. It will reward you with its lovely lavender-pink flowers all summer, while its silver foliage will delicately contrast with the green of the Blueberry, and more strongly when it adorns itself for autumn.