Vaccinium corymbosum Northland- American Blueberry

The Vaccinium corymbosum 'Northland' is a variety that produces medium-sized fruits that are sweet and aromatic. It is a bush of medium vigour, suitable for container cultivation when the garden soil is not suitable. This bush blooms in May with small white flowers, which produce berries that can be harvested from late June. The foliage is a beautiful green during the growing season and turns to lovely shades of orange in autumn. Although this variety is self-fertile, fruit production is even more abundant when another variety is planted nearby.

The Blueberry Bush belongs to the Ericaceae family, mainly known in gardens for its numerous ornamental genera. In addition to the well-known Rhododendrons and Heather, there are edible Ericaceae fruits, primarily the Arbutus and the genus Vaccinium, including blueberries, cranberries, and lingonberries. The cultivated blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum), native to North America, is grown in gardens for its abundant and high-quality fruit production. It is a highly cold-resistant bush with deciduous foliage that falls in autumn. It is grown in very acidic soil (devoid of limestone), with a tendency for peat and humus, in a semi-shaded position, for example, in the morning sun.

The cultivar 'Northland' is a variety with a compact, reasonably upright habit, not exceeding 1.20 to 1.30 m (4ft) in height with an equivalent or slightly larger width. It grows relatively slowly and forms a small, reasonably dense bush with deciduous foliage and a beautiful glossy green. The leaves are elliptical and pointed, and they colour beautifully in shades of orange and even red to purple in autumn. Flowering usually occurs in May, with small white bell-shaped flowers with pink edges, measuring 0.5 to 1 cm (0in) in length, arranged in pendulous clusters 2 to 5 cm (1 to 2in) long at the tips of the branches. This is followed by numerous dark blue berries with a slight bloom, ranging from small to medium in size. They ripen from late June and throughout July. Harvesting is spread out over 4 to 5 weeks, depending on the ripeness of the fruit. The production is relatively abundant and regular from year to year. These berries are sweet and aromatic, with a taste reminiscent of wild blueberries. They are delicious eaten fresh and can also be used to make pies, jams, and other desserts and dishes.
In terms of nutrition, it is worth noting that blueberries are low in calories but high in nutrients: they are very rich in vitamins A, B, and C, as well as calcium and iron. They contain pigments (anthocyanins) that improve night vision. Blueberries can be consumed freshly picked, in juice, jam, jelly, sorbet, or pastries (pies, muffins). The fruit can be stored for about ten days after picking and frozen for longer preservation.

'Northland' can be planted in groups to ensure abundant harvests, but it can also be grown in containers using an acidic substrate. Its flowering, especially its vivid autumn colours, is mainly decorative and will not look out of place among "solely ornamental" shrubs. They will complement well with shrubs that turn yellow in autumn, such as Clethra alnifolia, which also appreciates semi-shade and acidic, moist soil. You can also plant Northland at the base of a beautiful flowering dogwood, such as the remarkable Cornus kousa Satomi, with pink flowers (bracts) in June and scarlet foliage in autumn. And of course, the Hydrangeas, among which you will have plenty of choices from the wide range available, will also be excellent companions... (and if you really can't decide, why not try the Hydrangea aspera Macrophylla...).