Dig into Plants: Rabbiteye Blueberry Bush

Rabbiteye Blueberry

Other Common Names: Smallflower Blueberry, Southern Highbush Blueberry

Scientific Name: Vaccinium virgatum

Native to Alabama: Yes

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Learn More About...

Basic Plant Information

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I am a vasuclar plant with woody stems above ground, so I am shrub.
I do not keep leaves year-round, so I am deciduous.
I die back in winter but regrow in spring for many seasons, so I am perennial.
I can grow 10-15 feet high and 6-8 feet wide.

Ecological Benefits

This plant provides food for:

Butterflies

Caterpillars
Brown Elfin

Other Pollinators

Native Bees

Other Birds

Small Mammals (and bears)

Other Plants Found in Alabama with Similar Ecological Benefits:

Sparkleberry
(Vaccinium arboreum)
*Host for Striped Hairstreak & Summer Azure

Highbush Blueberry
(Vaccinium corymbosum)

Darrow’s Blueberry
(Vaccinium darrowii)

Elliott’s Blueberry
(Vaccinium elliottii)

Black Highbush Blueberry
(Vaccinium fuscatum)

Shiny Blueberry
(Vaccinium myrsinites)

Blue Ridge Blueberry
(Vaccinium pallidum)

Deerberry
(Vaccinium stamineum)
*Host for Red-spotted Purple

Small Black Blueberry
(Vaccinium tenellum)

Maintenance Notes

Dormant in winter.
For first three years, prune away damaged or dead branches and spent blooms. Around year 4, start pruning them in late winter or early spring by cutting them back about 1/3 of the distance to the ground and remove branches that impede air flow.
The plants’ feeder roots are very close to the surface and do not have root hairs; therefore, good soil moisture management and heavy mulches are needed.
It requires more than one variety to be planted for proper cross-pollination. Plant different cultivars to extend the berry picking season.
When watering, hold hose to base of plant for a count of 5 seconds. Water should reach all roots.
Avoid sprinkling water on the leaves.
Requires average amount of water.

Average watering: water two times per week during the summer and once per week during the rest of the year.

Habitat Requirements

This plant prefers:

Full Sun
(6+ hours of sun per day)

Part Sun/Shade
(2-6 hours of sun per day)

Prefers average watering

Well-drained, Sandy, Loamy, Clay, Acidic, or Moist Soil

Leaf, Flower & Seed Identification

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LEAF DESCRIPTION

Leaves are less than 1 inch wide and up to 3 inches long; dark green to blue-green; top of leaf can be slightly hairy; underside of leaf has lighter color; leaves turn red and yellow in the fall.

Leaf Characteristics Chart (PDF)


Shape: Eliptic	Margin: Serrate

Arrangement: Alternate	Form: Simple

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FLOWER DESCRIPTION

Small (less than 1 inch) flowers grow in clusters and have fused petals, creating bell shape; do not self-pollinate.

Flower Shape Chart (JPG)


Color: White, pink, green	Shape: Bell (Campanulate)	Bloom Months: Mar-Jun

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SEED DESCRIPTION

Plant spreads by:
Seeds and suckers
spread via suckers (a sprout or slim branch of new growth at the root or base of the plant) These sprouts are able to put out their own roots and become new plants that are clones, genetically identical to the parent plants


Type: Fruit – Berry	Description: Fruit is small, round berry that is black- blue when ripe, or pink-white when unripe; less than an inch wide and long; females must have male present to produce berries	Months in Seed: Spring, Summer

Plant Life Cycle

Plant Life Cycle:

All plants start life as a seed.
The seed turns into a sprout when it grows roots.
The sprout becomes a seedling as grows a stem and leaves above the ground.
After the seedling becomes an adult plant it will grow flowers.
After the flowers finish blooming, each flower turns into a seed.
When the seeds fall down to the ground, the plant life cycle starts again.
Each seed can become a plant if it has the food, water and space that it needs to grow.

General Plant Life Cycle – Dreamstime

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR TEACHERS

Quick Fact Sheet
(Condensed Species Info)

Plant ID Sign (Text Only):
Ready as-is PDF

Plant ID Sign (With Picture):
Ready as-is PDF

QR Code
(Links to this Webpage)

Plant ID Sign (Text Only):
Editable Word Doc

Plant ID Sign (With Picture):
Editable Word Doc

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