Overview
Canada blueberry (Vaccinium myrtilloides) is a small, sweet, bright blue to dark blue berry native to Canada and the northern United States. It is a lowbush species, closely related to the more commercially prominent lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium), and is known for its fine-textured flesh and mild, sweet flavor with low acidity.
Origin and history
Vaccinium myrtilloides is native to boreal and temperate forests across Canada, the Great Lakes region, and the northeastern and northwestern United States [1]. Unlike the highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum), which was domesticated in the early 20th century, Canada blueberry has not been significantly domesticated and is primarily wild-harvested or managed in barrens alongside V. angustifolium [2]. Commercial production of lowbush blueberries in eastern Canada and Maine often includes a mix of species, including V. myrtilloides [2].
Varieties and aliases
- Common blueberry
- Velvetleaf huckleberry
- Velvetleaf blueberry
- Sourtop blueberry
- No named cultivars are widely recognized; the species is primarily wild.