Virginia Tech Dendrology

black highbush blueberry Ericaceae Vaccinium fuscatum Aiton symbol: VAFU
Leaf: Alternate, simple, deciduous, elliptical, 1 to 3 inches long, entire or serrated margins; green above, paleer and pubescent below, especially along the midrib.
Flower: Small, white, bell-shaped, in clusters (corymbs), appearing in early spring.
Fruit: Small (1/3 inch), very dark purple berry that lacks glaucous bloom; ripens in mid to late summer. Fruits are sweet and edible.
Twig: Slender, zigzag, green and red, pubescent; vegetative buds are small, red and pointed; flower buds are considerably larger and round.
Bark: Gray-brown to reddish brown, very shreddy.
Form: An upright shrub typically with several main stems and an open crown reaching up to 10 feet tall.
Looks like: highbush blueberry - huckleberry

Additional Range Information: Vaccinium fuscatum is native to North America. Range may be expanded by planting. Download the full-size PDF map.
External Links: USDA Plants Database
All material 2021 Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation; Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen, Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson; Silvics reprinted from Ag Handbook 654; range map source information