Physical Description of a Blueberry Plant

Size

• Most varieties of blueberry bushes stand upright. Small blueberry plants may only reach a height of 4 inches or less. These lowbush blueberry plants often look more like ground cover than bushes. Larger types, known as highbush blueberries, reach a height of 5 to 10 feet and occasionally even more. Berries sold in stores are usually from the highbush varieties. Lowbush varieties may take up a space of 3 to 4 feet, with larger types reaching up to 6 feet in width.

Leaves

• Most blueberry plants found in the United States have deciduous leaves, but there are some that are evergreens. Leaf size varies from less than half an inch to approximately 3 inches in length. Blueberry leaves are not as wide as they are long, giving them an elongated appearance. Leaves are green and glossy throughout the growing season, turning color in the fall.

Flowers

• Blueberry plants bloom in the latter part of spring. They show an abundance of mostly white flowers, though some varieties show pink or red-colored blossoms. Flowers are bell-shaped and considered so pretty by many that they are the main reason behind some people's initial decision to plant a blueberry bush.

Fruit

• Blueberries are fairly small and round. Fruit takes approximately three weeks to ripen. On blueberry bushes that have not been pruned, fruit is generally more abundant, but smaller in size. As a general rule, the larger the branch, the larger both the flower and the fruit on the branch. Fruit production occurs for several weeks, with the specific time of ripening dependent on both the location and the species chosen.

Cool Weather

• In autumn, the leaves and sometimes the stems of blueberry bushes turn a bright red. Once the leaves fall, leaf and fruit buds can be seen on the bush. Distinguish fruit buds and leaf buds from one another by their size and placement. Fruit buds are roundish, larger than leaf buds and appear close to the end of the branches. Leaf buds are smaller and can be seen along the length of the branches.