Probably our most common large blueberry, formerly known as Vaccinium atrococcum. The small, black berries are not as large or as sweet as those of the Southern Highbush Blueberry (V. formosum), which are the ones used in commerce.

Orange Co., NC 6/6/03.

The urceolate (urn-shaped) flowers appear in early spring before the leaves.

Moore Co., NC 3/14/07.

Orange Co., NC 4/6/05.

The twigs are puberulent (covered with small downy hairs).

Blueberries can be tough to identify. The taxonomy is unclear and hybrids are relatively common. One hybrid that's been found in Durham County is V. ×marianum, which is thought to be a cross between formosum, fuscatum, and possibly pallidum.

Moore Co., NC 6/6/03.

Bark detail.

Moore Co., NC 3/14/07.