Vaccinium corymbosum Northcountry- American Blueberry

The Vaccinium corymbosum 'Northcountry' is a variety of blueberry bush producing huge fruits. This vigorous and early variety produces deliciously sweet and slightly acidic fruits that ripen early in July. It forms a vigorous bush that can reach a height of 1.50 m (5ft), with pretty little flowers in April-May and foliage that turns beautiful shades of red to purple in autumn. Well suited to small spaces and resistant to cold weather, this variety is relatively easy to grow in non-chalky soil and requires little maintenance. In all blueberry bushes, fruiting is even more abundant if another variety is planted nearby.

The Blueberry bush belongs to the Ericaceae family and is well-known in gardens for its many ornamental genera. In addition to the well-known Rhododendrons and Heather, it also includes other valuable plants such as Pieris, Kalmia, Enkianthus, Gaultheria, or Oxydendrum. But there are also Ericaceae with edible fruits, mainly Arbutus and the genus Vaccinium, which includes blueberries, cranberries, and lingonberries. The lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum), native to North America, is cultivated in gardens for its abundant and high-quality fruiting. It is a highly cold-resistant bush with deciduous foliage that falls in autumn. It is easy to grow in very acidic soil (not tolerant of limestone) and in a semi-shaded position, for example, in the morning sun.

The Northcountry cultivar is an American horticultural creation from the University of Minnesota. It is an exciting variety in many respects. Its limited growth allows it to be quickly grown in a container on a terrace. Slow-growing, it forms a small, spreading bush, 70 cm (28in) tall and 1 m (3ft) wide after 10 to 20 years. The deciduous foliage consists of reasonably dark green, elliptical and pointed leaves. Its arching branches take on sumptuous autumn colours, scarlet red, that can rival many purely ornamental plants.
Flowering occurs in May-June in small white bell-shaped flowers with pink edges, 0.5 to 1 cm (0in) long, arranged in pendulous clusters 2 to 5 cm (1 to 2in) long at the ends of the stems. It is followed by numerous large, blue berries that ripen in July-August. Harvesting will be staggered according to the ripeness of the fruit. Another significant advantage of 'Northcountry' is that it combines the productivity of American blueberries (up to 2 kg of fruit per mature plant) with the delicious taste of our wild blueberries. Nutritionally, it should be noted that blueberries are low in calories but high in nutritional value: they are very rich in vitamins A, B, and C, calcium, and iron. They contain pigments (anthocyanins) that improve night vision. Blueberries can be eaten freshly picked, in juice, jam, jelly, sorbet, or pastries (pies, muffins). The fruit can be stored for about ten days after picking and frozen for longer preservation.

The 'Northcountry' blueberry bush can be planted in groups if you want to ensure bountiful harvests, but it can also be grown in a container, in an acidic substrate, of course. Its flowering and vivid autumn colours are particularly decorative and will not look out of place among "solely ornamental" shrubs. Its small size will allow it to be planted at the base of slightly taller heather shrubs, such as the beautiful Kalmias with their dark green evergreen foliage and delightful flowers. You can also plant it in front of the stunning Cornus florida Rainbow, a dogwood with variegated foliage and magnificent spring "flowers" (actually bracts).