Lowbush Blueberry

Description:

Who can't go to Maine without seeing a blueberry? The wild Lowbush Blueberry can commonly be found in the forests of Maine. This was the last blueberry left on a huge patch of them we found while hiking Douglas Mountain in Maine. They grow no taller than half a foot in height. They differ from cultivated blueberries in having a more tart flavor.

Habitat:

Woodlands and clearings of Maine and other north eastern areas.

Notes:

Vaccinium angustifolium often increase in number following a forest fire. Traditionally, blueberry growers burn their fields every few years to get rid of shrubs and fertilize the soil. Native Americans regularly burnt away trees and shrubs in parts of eastern Maine in order to stimulate blueberry production. In Acadian French, a blueberry field is known as a "brûlis" (from brûlé, burnt) because of that technique, which is still in use.