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Why Vaccinium?

By Chelsie Vandaveer

November 29, 2002

Killer Savings: Spring Hill Nursery -$20 off—>Click here.

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The genus, Vaccinium, officially named by Linnaeus, is native to the Northern Hemisphere and is estimated to contain 150 species. All of the Vaccinium produce berries, although not all berries in this genus are consumed by humans, most serve as fodder for wildlife. Vaccinium (blueberries, cranberries, and lingonberries) are members of the
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Blueberries belong in every home garden! Not only do they produce deliciously sweet and healthful fruits, but the 4- to 6 foot shrubs make handsome landscape plants. Once established, blueberries need little care or attention. Zones: 4 - 7 (-20° F.) Click here - $20 off your first order at Gurneys! [More Small Fruit & Berries!]

Ericaceae or heath family.

By John Gerard's time, the late 1500s, the 'blueberries' were grouped under the name, Vaccinia, but were commonly called the wortle, whortle, or hurtle berries. He wrote, "These plants prosper best in a lean barren soile, and in untoiled wooddy places: they are now and then found on high hills subject to the winde, and upon mountains...." (The Herbal, 1633 ed.)

No one is certain of the derivation of the name, whortleberry. The 1889 Century Unabridged Dictionary traces the word to the Anglo-Saxon, wyrtil, meaning a small shrub or root, but goes on to explain, "Has long been uncertain, the word having variant forms, hurtleberry, hurtberry, hartberry, showing confusion or perhaps ultimate identity with hartberry in its original application (AS, heortberge, berry of the buckthorn)." The blueberry is delicious, but the buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) is poisonous.

Gray's Manual of Botany (1950, reprint 1987) says of the derivation of Vaccinium, "Ancient name, presumably from the Latin vaccinus, of cows, as reflected in the germanic folk-name, Kuhteke." Many Vaccinium thrive in open grasslands, moors, or heaths--pasturage where cattle were turned out to forage. Presumably, cows have a fondness for the fruit.

Den Virtuella Floran has posted an article with photographs of one of the whortleberries (Vaccinium myrtillus). To view the photographs, click on the link:

http://linnaeus.nrm.se/flora/di/erica/vacci/vaccmyr.html

The Nature Conservancy in conjunction with the University of California, Davis has posted a page with photographs of the buckthorns, Rhamnus spp. To view the photographs, click on the link:

http://tncweeds.ucdavis.edu/esadocs/franalnu.html

killerPlants Tendrils: ~~1~~2~~3~~4~~5~~

Cranberry

Gurney's Seed and Nursery®

Tart Berries for Holiday Sauces! Veining ground cover bears tart, edible berries. Grows just 10 inches tall and 2-3 feet wide. No pruning needed. Thrives in sun or shade, acidic soils. Cream-to-pink springtime blooms and burgundy-red fruit in fall. 3½-inch pot. Zones: 2 - 7 (-50° F.) Click here - $20 off your first order at Gurneys! [More Small Fruit & Berries!]

Garden Solutions All Natural Blueberry Food

Gurney's Seed and Nursery®

Ensures Healthy Growth, High Yield! Balanced formula is made from plant and animal by-products and enhanced with minerals and natural trace elements. Helps maintain acid pH, which blueberries need. One 2 lb. package treats 80 sq. ft. Click here - $20 off your first order at Gurneys!

Dwarf Tophat Blueberry

Gurney's Seed and Nursery®

Compact Plants With Full-Size Flavor

Made for patio pots! Cold hardy, compact and so attractive, it's often grown as an ornamental.

Dusky blue berries are the size you find in the market--big, plump and best for baking. Round, firm, flavorful fruits are excellent fresh and keep their quality when frozen.

6-9 inch plants. Zones: 3 - 8 (-30° F.)

Blueberries belong in every home garden! Not only do they produce deliciously sweet and healthful fruits, but the 4- to 6 foot shrubs make handsome landscape plants. Once established, blueberries need little care or attention. Click here - $20 off your first order at Gurneys!
[More Small Fruit & Berries!]

Comments: Lowbush variety; primarily ornamental. Bush matures in 3-4 years. Completely covered with white, bell shaped flowers. Lasting for several weeks. Berries can be harvested for several weeks. Can be trained as Bonsai specimen.

Jersey Blueberry

Gurney's Seed and Nursery®

Big Crops, Really Big Berries!

Medium-blue fruit so large and juicy, you'll have a hard time getting it to the table. Plump berries seem to disappear just as fast as you pick them! Fine for freezing, too.

Ripens in late July. 12- 18-inch plants.

Zones: 4 - 8 (-20° F.) Click here - $20 off your first order at Gurneys! [More Small Fruit & Berries!]

Semi-Dwarf Northland Blueberries

Gurney's Seed and Nursery®

Bears 15-20 Pounds Per Bush!

Gurney's Choice Extremely productive! Northland gives you loads of medium size, nutritious fruit on a beautiful, spreading bush. Great for small spaces--grows only 3-4 ft. wide. Gorgeous orange-red foliage in fall.

Thrives in sub-zero temp. Ripens early July. Zones: 3 - 7 (-30° F.)

Blueberries belong in every home garden! Not only do they produce deliciously sweet and healthful fruits, but the 4- to 6 foot shrubs make handsome landscape plants. Once established, blueberries need little care or attention. Click here - $20 off your first order at Gurneys!
[More Small Fruit & Berries!]

Comments: One of the highest in healthful antioxidants. Large fruit with intensely rich flavor. Ripens in early July.

Patriot Hybrid Blueberries

Gurney's Seed and Nursery®

Known for Consistent Yields.

Produces up to 20 pounds of fruit per plant. Deep blue fruit ripens in July. Flavor is rich, berries are extra large--firmer and flatter than most.

Shows good resistance to root rot.

12- to 18-inch plants.

Zones: 3 - 7 (-30° F.)

Blueberries belong in every home garden! Not only do they produce deliciously sweet and healthful fruits, but the 4- to 6 foot shrubs make handsome landscape plants. Once established, blueberries need little care or attention. Click here - $20 off your first order at Gurneys!
[More Small Fruit & Berries!]

Comments: Highbush blueberry. Fruit is firm, if weather is not too hot. Small, dry recessed scar on fruit. Resistant to phytophthora. Tolerates wet or clay soils well. Red wood. Very vigorous.

Dwarf Northblue Blueberry

Gurney's Seed and Nursery®

Big Yields With Dwarf Form

Gurney's Choice Cold-hardy University of Minnesota introduction. Consistently yields 2-5 pounds of sweet, juicy fruit by mid-June. Ornamental size ideal for landscaping--grows just 2 feet tall.

Zones: 3 - 7 (-30° F.)

Click here - $20 off your first order at Gurneys!
[More Small Fruit & Berries!]

Compact Combo

Gurney's Seed and Nursery®

Compacted Plants!

Save $8.35! Get one each of:

Dwarf Tophat: Made for patio pots! Cold hardy, compact and so attractive, it's often grown as an ornamental. Dusky blue berries are the size you find in the market--big, plump and best for baking. Round, firm, flavorful fruits are excellent fresh and keep their quality when frozen. 6-9 inch plants.

Dwarf Northblue: Cold-hardy University of Minnesota introduction. Consistently yields 2-5 pounds of sweet, juicy fruit by mid-June. Ornamental size ideal for landscaping--grows just 2 feet tall. 9- to 12-inch plants.

Garden Solutions Blueberry Food: Increase Plant Vigor, Get Beautiful Blueberry Plants, Faster!Blueberries prefer acidic soil (pH 4.5 to 5.5). To help your new plants establish and produce more fruit, we recommend Gardens Solution®Shrub and Tree Food for Acid-loving Plants. This Balanced formula is made from plant and animal by-products and enhanced with minerals and natural trace elements. Also great for your rhododendrons, azaleas, dogwoods, hollies, junipers and more. One 2 lb. package treats 80 sq. ft. Click here - $20 off your first order at Gurneys! [More Small Fruit & Berries!]