rabbiteye blueberry

Rabbiteye Blueberry
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Ericales Family: Ericaceae Genus: Vaccinium Species: V. virgatum
Binomial name
Vaccinium virgatum Aiton

Rabbiteye Blueberry (Vaccinium virgatum, also known as V. ashei) is a species of blueberry native to the southeastern United States, from North Carolina south to Florida and west to Texas. Other common names include Southern Highbush Blueberry, Southern Black Blueberry, and Smallflower Blueberry.

It is a deciduous shrub growing to 4 m tall, though usually less, commonly only 1-2 m tall. The leaves are spirally arranged, oblanceolate to narrow elliptic, 3-6 cm long. The flowers are white, bell-shaped, 5 mm long. The fruit is a berry 5 mm diameter, dark blue to black, bloomed pale blue-gray by a thin wax coating. It grows best on acid soil and is subject to few pests and diseases.

Rabbiteye blueberries are self infertile and must have two or more varieties to pollenize each other. Honeybees are inefficient pollinators, and carpenter bees frequently cut the corollas to rob nectar without pollinating the flowers. Rabbiteyes do best when pollinated by buzz pollination by bees, such as the native southeastern blueberry bee, Habropoda laboriosa.

Cultivation and uses

The species is cultivated for its edible berries, which are similar to other blueberries. It is also grown as an ornamental plant for its fall colors, typically bright orange or red.

External links

• Rabbiteye blueberry culture from Alabama Extension

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