With 450 to 500 species, Vaccinium (blueberries) is an extremely extensive plant genus. For example, cranberries and lingonberries belong to the genus, as do the typical blueberries with their spherical blue berries.
Are medicinal blueberries suitable as ground cover in the garden?
Blueberriesare suitable as ground coverfor the garden. However, only low-bush varieties of Vaccinium corymbosum form runners that cover the ground over time. The growth heights of the ground-covering blueberry bushes are between 20 and 60 centimeters, depending on the variety.
How tall do blueberries grow?
Thegrowth height of blueberriesvaries depending on the type or variety.
Compact blueberries
Compact-growing blueberries, also called dwarf blueberries, reach a final height of between 20 and 60 centimeters. Since many varieties only grow five to ten centimeters per year, it takes a while until they are “grown out”.
Half-high blueberries
The half-high blueberry bushes include cultivars of cultivated blueberries that grow to a height of approximately 100 cm.
Tall blueberries
With these varieties, the bushes reach heights of 150 to 300 centimeters. Many classic cultivated blueberries belong to this group.
Are blueberries ground-covering?
For use in the garden asground coveronly compactly growing blueberriesare suitable, because only low-bushy varieties form runners (rhizomes). which upright shoots grow.
Can you plant wild blueberries as ground cover?
The native wild blueberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) formsrunnersthat cover theground In the wild, the blueberry can cover areas of several 1,000 take up square meters. However, the wild species is only suitable to a limited extent for the garden, as you usually have to replace the soil to plant wild blueberries. You can get Vaccinium myrtillus plants from specialist retailers, but they are rarely offered. If you would like to dig up wild plants, you must obtain the forest owner's consent in advance.
Tip
Ground-covering blueberries for those with a sweet tooth
When it comes to the yield of ground-covering blueberries, your expectations shouldn't be too high. Because compared to half-height and tall blueberry bushes, the harvest is smaller.
