Virginia Tech Dendrology

Elliott's blueberry Ericaceae Vaccinium elliottii Chapm. symbol: VAEL
Leaf: Alternate, simple, deciduous (may be tardily), elliptical, up to 1 1/2 inches long and usually under 1 inch wide, entire or serrated margins, shiny green above and below and somewhat thickened.
Flower: Small, white to pink, elongated bell-shaped, in clusters of 3-5, appearing in spring with or just before the leaves.
Fruit: Small (1/3 inch), black berry ripens by mid-summer. Fruits are sweet and edible.
Twig: Slender, zigzag, usually green (may be reddish) and somewhat pubescent; vegetative buds are small, red and pointed; flower buds are considerably larger and round.
Bark: Reddish brown, very shreddy.
Form: An upright shrub typically with several main stems and an open crown reaching up to 9 feet tall.
Looks like: sparkleberry - highbush blueberry - deerberry - huckleberry

Additional Range Information: Vaccinium elliottii is native to North America. Range may be expanded by planting. Download the full-size PDF map.
External Links: USDA Plants Database
All material 2025 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