| Shiny blueberry
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| Vaccinium myrsinites
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| Ericaceae
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Landscape Uses:
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Primarily recommended for natural landscapes and habitat restorations. Also an accent shrub. |
Ecological Restoration Notes: |
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| Availability: |
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Commonly available at native plant nurseries in central Florida. Available at native plant nurseries in northeast Florida. |
| Description: |
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Small compact densely-branched shrub with numerous underground branches. Leaves small, thick and shiny green, about 1/4 to 3/4 inches long. |
| Height: |
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Typically, 1-2 feet in height. Spreading from underground stems and forming masses broader than tall. |
| Growth Rate: |
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Slow. |
| Range: |
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Southeastern United States south to Miami-Dade and Collier counties. |
| Habitats: |
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Pinelands. |
| Soils: |
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Moist to dry, well-drained sandy soils, without humus, acid pH. |
| Nutritional Requirements: |
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Low; it grows in nutrient poor soils. |
| Salt Water Tolerance: |
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Low; does not tolerate long-term flooding by salt or brackish water. |
| Salt Wind Tolerance: |
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Moderate; grows near salt water, but is protected from direct salt spray by other vegetation. |
| Drought Tolerance: |
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High; does not require any supplemental water once established. |
| Light Requirements: |
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Full sun. |
| Flower Color: |
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White to pink. |
| Flower Characteristics: |
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Semi-showy. |
| Flowering Season: |
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Spring. |
| Fruit: |
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Black berry. Edible. |
| Wildlife and Ecology: |
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Provides food and cover for wildlife. Attracts bee pollinators. Birds and other animals eat the fruits. |
| Horticultural Notes: |
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Can be grown from de-pulped seed. |
| Comments: |
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See also the Florida Wildflower Foundation's Flower Friday page.
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James Johnson, 2014 In habitat, Blazingstar Preserve, Palm Beach County, Florida Enlarge
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James Johnson, 2014 In habitat, Hillsboro Pineland Natural Area, Broward County, Florida
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