Do you know there is a misconception that Blueberries, often confused with Huckleberries, grow on trees?
Blueberries belong to the genus Vaccinium which contains other relatives like bilberry, Huckleberry, Cranberry, and Lingonberry.
Usually, it takes two years to produce Blueberry in its bush, and the bush older than 4 years gives vigorous yields.
Where Do Blueberries Grow Best?
Blueberries are hardy plants that grow very well in cold climates tolerating temperatures below -20 to -30°F.
Moreover, they need full sunlight and acidic soil of pH 4.5 to 4.8. You can grow them best if you are from USDA zone 3-8.
Blueberries were first found in North America as wild, and all cultivated varieties are from these wild ones.
Nowadays, these upright shrubs grow very finely, producing delicious mighty berries in many countries like U.S., Canada, Chile, Argentina, and Mexico.
What Do Blueberries Grow On?
After talking about the growing condition of Blueberries as plants, let’s shift to Blueberries as fruits.
Blueberries produce pink or white bell-shaped blossoms in the cluster that later fades to grow round green berries. When ripe, they turn blackish purple with seeds inside them.
There is no great difference in identifying wild Blueberries as they look just like cultivated ones.
However, when you focus only on the fruit, wild Blueberries are much smaller and more delicious than cultivated ones.
Mostly, you can find Blueberries growing on the bush or shrub attached to the stem with the help of pedicel in clusters.
However, you can also find the Japanese Blueberry variety growing as a tree with larger olive-shaped fruits that aren’t edible.
Thus, edible Blueberries grow on bushes and are of four types, according to their sizes.
Highbush Blueberries: Highbush is the most productive Blueberry type and produces pink berries on about 6 feet long shrub.
Lowbush Blueberries: Spreading like a creeper, 1-foot tall Lowbush produces grey berries and grows best in cold climates.
Half-high Blueberries: These new breeds reach 18-48 inches high, producing fruits less sweet than other types.
Rabbiteye Blueberries: This Blueberry type grows 15 feet high and requires two or more blueberry varieties for pollination. Fruiting of this variety occurs comparatively late and bears purple powdery fruits.
From Editorial Team
Don’t be Confused Between Blueberries and Huckleberries
Although they bear the same genus, Blueberries and Huckleberries are two different fruits that look similar at first glimpse.
Both look-alike fruits are round, small, and bluish-purple, but the Huckleberries are very sour with harder seeds compared to Blueberries.
