# lowbush blueberry (*Vaccinium angustifolium*) Lowbush blueberries are small, tasty berries that grow close to the ground. They are sweet and delicious, making them a favorite snack for kids and animals alike! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 14 - **Habitat:** Forests ![lowbush blueberry](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Vaccinium_angustifolium%252C_Pancake_Bay_PP.jpg&width=800) Photo: Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Vaccinium_angustifolium%252C_Pancake_Bay_PP.jpg) ## Appearance The lowbush blueberry is a small, sprawling shrub with glossy green, oval leaves that turn fiery red in fall. It produces tiny, bell-shaped white to pinkish flowers, followed by pea-sized, powdery blue to dark purple berries. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Ericales - **Family:** Ericaceae - **Genus:** Vaccinium ## Interesting facts - Did you know ancient peoples dried these berries to enjoy them all winter long? - Early American settlers made purple dye from these berries to color their clothes! - Eating blueberries can actually help your brain remember things better! - Some blueberry patches are hundreds of years old, connected by underground stems! ## Special abilities - **Cold Survivor:** Lowbush blueberry has rhizomes that allow it to spread underground and survive harsh northern winters, popping up new shoots each spring. - **Fire Rescuer:** This plant can quickly regrow from its underground roots after a forest fire, helping to bring life back to scorched lands. - **Acid Lover:** Lowbush blueberry can thrive in very acidic, nutrient-poor soils where many other plants struggle to grow. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 15-60 cm - **Spread:** 30-90 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.5-0.8 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late spring to early summer - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Common Eastern Bumblebee (*Bombus impatiens*) — Helps transfer pollen for berry production. - **Eaten by:** American Black Bear (*Ursus americanus*) — Berries are a key food source in summer. - **Eaten by:** [American Robin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-robin) (*Turdus migratorius*) — Feeds on berries and helps disperse seeds. - **Eaten by:** [Red Fox](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-fox) (*Vulpes vulpes*) — Sometimes eats berries, aiding in seed dispersal. ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground. - [Fruit Bearing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fruit-bearing): Fruit-bearing plants produce fruits, which are the mature ovaries of flowering plants containing seeds. - [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always wash berries before eating them to make sure they are clean. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify lowbush blueberry? Compare how the fruit is clustered, the leaves and their arrangement, the stems and any thorns. Red, blue and black fruits grow on lots of unrelated plants, and the same color can show up on both edible and poisonous species. Berry Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is lowbush blueberry? 15-60 cm ### How wide does lowbush blueberry spread? 30-90 cm ### How big are the flowers on lowbush blueberry? 0.5-0.8 cm ### When does lowbush blueberry bloom? Late spring to early summer ### Is lowbush blueberry edible? Yes ### Is lowbush blueberry toxic? None ### What is lowbush blueberry's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Enfield Shaker Museum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/enfield-shaker-museum) — New Hampshire, US · Museum - [Five Channels Dam](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/five-channels-dam) — Michigan, US · Historic Site - [McDade Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mcdade-park) — Pennsylvania, US · Botanical Garden - [Appleton Farms](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/appleton-farms) — Massachusetts, US · Nature Reserve - [Canoe Landing Prairie State Natural Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/canoe-landing-prairie-state-natural-area) — Wisconsin, US · State Park - [Clayville Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/clayville-historic-district) — Rhode Island, US · Historic District [View all places to see lowbush blueberry](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/lowbush-blueberry) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Lowbush Blueberry: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/lowbush-blueberry)