Darrow’s blueberry
Vaccinium darrowii
Ericaceae


Landscape Uses:

Primarily recommended for natural landscapes and habitat restorations.

Ecological Restoration Notes:

Availability:
Grown by a few native plant nurseries in central and northern Florida.
Description:
Small compact densely-branched shrub with numerous underground branches. Leaves small, thick and bluish-green, about 1/4 to 2/3 inches long; the new growth is pinkish.
Height:
Typically, 1-2 feet in height. Spreading from underground stems and forming masses broader than tall.
Growth Rate:
Slow.
Range:
Southeastern United States south to St. Lucie, Hendry and Collier counties; also reported for Martin and Palm Beach counties, where either absent or very rare.
Habitats:
Pinelands.
Soils:
Moist to dry, well-drained sandy soils, without humus, acid pH.
Nutritional Requirements:
Low; it grows in nutrient poor soils.
Salt Water Tolerance:
Low; does not tolerate flooding by salt or brackish water.
Salt Wind Tolerance:
Low; salt wind may burn the leaves.
Drought Tolerance:
High; does not require any supplemental water once established.
Light Requirements:
Full sun.
Flower Color:
White to pink.
Flower Characteristics:
Semi-showy.
Flowering Season:
Spring.
Fruit:
Blue berry; edible.
Wildlife and Ecology:
Provides food and cover for wildlife. Nectar plant for butterflies and other pollinators. Birds and other animals eat the fruits.
Horticultural Notes:
Comments:
Very similar to Vaccinium myrsinites, but with bluish foliage.


George D. Gann, 2017
In cultivation, Florida