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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Poplarville, Mississippi » Southern Horticultural Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #167331
Title: 'NATIVE BLUE', A NEW SOUTHERN ORNAMENTAL (VACCINIUM DARROWI) BLUEBERRY CULTIVAR

Author
item Stringer, Stephen
item Spiers, James
item DRAPER, ARLEN - RETIRED ARS

Submitted to: HortScience
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/15/2004
Publication Date: 7/1/2004
Citation: Stringer, S.J., Spiers, J.M., Draper, A.D. 2004. 'native blue', a new southern ornamental (vaccinium darrowi) blueberry cultivar. HortScience p. 804.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Ornamental blueberries have excellent potential to become popular in the southern landscaping due to their attractive evergreen floiage which complements other ornamentals such as azaleas, camellias, crepe myrtles, etc., and also since they provide food and serve as sttractants to birds and other wildlife. 'Native Blue', tested as MS 611, resulted from a cross of two native diploid Vaccinium darrowi Camp clones, Florida 4B X US 799. US 799 was selected from seedlings grown from open pollinated seedlings grown by Dr. Paul Lyrene in Ocala National Forest, Florida. Florida 4B is a clone selected from the wild, also from Florida. The cross was made by Dr. Arlen Draper and selected in the greenhouse in 1987. Plants of 'Native Blue' are low growing, compact, and finely branched with small, glaucous leaves and are quite typical of V. darrowi. In test plots in Mississippi, the plants set many small berries and after four to six years have grown to a height of approximately 18 inches. Desirable characteristics include beautiful pastel foliage, and hardy vigorous plants which produce much fruit that is attractive to native birds.