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Blue Ridge Blueberry

Vaccinium altomontanum

99
Keystone

Native to Virginia. How scores work Is it native here?

Profile 35%

Will it fit your yard?

At a glance

Height
8–12 in
Bloom
April–June

Not yet recorded · Spread · Light · Soil · Life cycle · Leaves

Recorded in 8 Virginia counties.

From historical sources

What the old botany books say

These facts were missing, so Quercus searched the Biodiversity Heritage Library for Vaccinium altomontanum and read up to three independent North American books. Every quote was checked word for word against the scanned page. Open a page to read it.

Bloom: April–June 2 of 3 books agree

Cyanococcus vacillans. Native woody plants of the United States (1938), William Richard Van Dersal

“flowers May—June”

Listed in this book as Cyanococcus vacillans

Vaccinium viride. Torreya (1901), William J Bonisteel

“Flowers, appearing about the middle of April”

Listed in this book as Vaccinium viride

Help us verify the bloom time

Read the quotes above. When do these books say it flowers?

3 matching answers from different visitors mark it verified.

Habitat: Site: Dry, well-drained, sun, shade. Fruit: Berry, available July—September. A small, loosely-branched shrub; flowers May—June; occurs in sandy and other soils. From 1 book, needs a second

Cyanococcus vacillans. Native woody plants of the United States (1938), William Richard Van Dersal

“Site: Dry, well-drained, sun, shade. Fruit: Berry, available July—September. A small, loosely-branched shrub; flowers May—June; occurs in sandy and other soils.”

Listed in this book as Cyanococcus vacillans

Cyanococcus vacillans. Handbook of native woody plants of the United States ([193), William Richard Van Dersal

“Save) sOim fresh. sun, shade’,”

Listed in this book as Cyanococcus vacillans

Help us verify the habitat

Read the quotes above. Do these quotes describe where the plant grows?

3 matching answers from different visitors mark it verified.

Height: 8–12 in From 1 book, needs a second

Vaccinium viride. Torreya (1901), William J Bonisteel

“A shrub 2-3 dm. high”

Listed in this book as Vaccinium viride

Help us verify the height

Read the quote above. How tall do these books say it grows?

3 matching answers from different visitors mark it verified.

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

255CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including VA

Genus host records with ranges including VA · Vaccinium

  • Abagrotis alternataGreater Red Dart, Mottled Grey Cutworm
  • Abagrotis anchocelioidesBlueberry Budworm Moth
  • Abagrotis brunneipennisYankee Dart
  • Abagrotis cupidaCupid Dart
  • Acharia stimuleaSaddleback Caterpillar Moth
  • Achatia distinctaDistinct Quaker
  • Acleris albicomanaRed-Edged Acleris
  • Acleris curvalanaBlueberry Leaftier Moth
  • Acleris maculidorsanaStained-Back Leafroller Moth
  • Acleris minutaLesser Apple Leaf Folder, Yellowheaded Fireworm
Show all 255
  • Acleris pulverosana"North American" Hasty Acleris
  • Acleris viburnana"North American" Schaller's Acleris
  • Acrobasis vacciniiCranberry Fruitworm
  • Acronicta americanaAmerican Dagger
  • Acronicta dolliDoll's Dagger
  • Acronicta funeralisFunerary Dagger, Paddle Caterpillar
  • Acronicta impletaYellow-Haired Dagger
  • Acronicta impressaImpressive Dagger, Printed Dagger
  • Acronicta noctivagaNight-Wandering Dagger, Burglar Dagger
  • Acronicta tritonaGray Dagger, Triton Dagger
  • Agnorisma bugraiCollared Dart
  • Agrotis ipsilonIpsilon Dart, Black Cutworm, Greasy Cutworm
  • Alsophila pometariaFall Cankerworm Moth
  • Amorbia humerosanaWhite-Lined Leafroller Moth
  • Amphipyra pyramidoidesMiranda Underwing, Copper Underwing, Copper Amphipyra
  • Anagrapha falciferaCelery Looper Moth
  • Anania tertialisCrowned Anania, Crowned Phlyctaenia
  • Anaplectoides prasinaGreen Arches Dart
  • Anavitrinella pampinariaCommon Gray, Cranberry Spanworm
  • Ancylis muricanaRed-Headed Ancylis
  • Ancylis nubeculanaApple Leaf Folder, Little Cloud Ancylis
  • Antaeotricha leucillanaWell-Marked Leaf Tier, Pale Gray Bird-Dropping Moth
  • Antheraea polyphemusPolyphemus Moth
  • Aplectoides conditaX
  • Archips argyrospilaFruit-Tree Leafroller Moth
  • Archips georgianaFireworm, Georgia Leafroller
  • Archips purpuranaOmnivorous Leafroller Moth
  • Arctia parthenosSt. Lawrence Tiger Moth
  • Argyrotaenia marianaGray-Banded Leafroller Moth
  • Argyrotaenia velutinanaRed-Banded Leafroller Moth, Jack Pine Tube Moth
  • Aroga trialbamaculellaRed-Striped Fireworm Moth
  • Biston betulariaSalt-and-Pepper Geometer, Cleft-Headed Looper
  • Brachionycha borealisBoreal Sprawler, Boreal Fan Moth
  • Cabera erythemariaYellow-Dusted Cream Moth
  • Caenurgina erechteaClover Looper Moth, Common Grass Moth, Forage Looper
  • Callophrys augustinusThe Brown Elfin
  • Callophrys henriciHenry's Elfin
  • Caloptilia belfragellaDogwood Caloptilia
  • Campaea perlataPale Beauty, Fringed Looper
  • Catocala andromedaeAndromeda Underwing
  • Catocala gracilisGraceful Underwing
  • Catocala sordidaSordid Underwing
  • Cecrita guttivittaMaple Prominent, Saddled Prominent
  • Cenopis diluticostanaSpring Dead-Leaf Roller Moth, Oak Cenopis
  • Cenopis directanaChokecherry Leafroller Moth
  • Cenopis pettitanaMaple-Basswood Leafroller Moth
  • Cenopis reticulatanaReticulated Fruitworm Moth
  • Cerastis fishiiFish's Dart
  • Cerastis tenebriferaReddish Speckled Dart
  • Chaetaglaea sericeaSilky Sallow
  • Chloropteryx tepperariaAngled-Winged Emerald
  • Choristoneura conflictanaLarge Aspen Tortrix
  • Choristoneura rosaceanaOblique-Banded Leafroller Moth, Rosaceous Leaf Roller
  • Chrysanympha formosaFormosa Looper Moth, Beautiful Looper
  • Chrysoteuchia topiariusCranberry Girder, Subterranean Webworm, Topiary Grass-Veneer
  • Cladara limitariaMottled Gray Carpet, Yellow-Lined Conifer Looper, Yellow-Lined Forest Looper, Black-Angled Wave
  • Clepsis persicanaWhite Triangle Tortrix
  • Coelodasys apicalisPlain Schizura
  • Coelodasys unicornisUnicorn Caterpillar Moth
  • Colias interiorPink-Edged Sulphur
  • Crocigrapha normaniNorman's Quaker
  • Cyclophora pendulinariaSweetfern Geometer
  • Darapsa choerilusAzalea Sphinx
  • Dasychira basiflavaYellow-Based Tussock Moth
  • Dasychira obliquataStreaked Tussock Moth
  • Datana drexeliiDrexel's Datana
  • Datana majorMajor Datana, Azalea Caterpillar
  • Datana ministraYellow-Necked Caterpillar Moth
  • Datana ranaecepsPost-Burn Datana
  • Diarsia rubiferaRed Dart
  • Dichomeris ligulellaPalmerworm
  • Drasteria graphicaGraphic Moth, Coastal Graphic
  • Dysstroma citrataDark Marbled Carpet
  • Dysstroma truncataMarbled Carpet
  • Ectropis crepusculariaThe Small Engrailed, Saddleback Looper
  • Egira alternansAlternate Woodling
  • Elaphria grataGrateful Midget
  • Emmelina monodactylaMorning-Glory Plume Moth
  • Epiglaea apiataRound-Loaf Sallow, Cranberry Sallow, Pointed Sallow Moth
  • Epirrita autumnataThe Autumnal Moth, November Moth
  • Erannis tiliariaLinden Looper Moth, Western Winter Moth, Lime Looper
  • Estigmene acreaSalt Marsh Moth, Acrea Moth
  • Eubaphe mendicaThe Beggar
  • Euchlaena effectaEffective Euchlaena
  • Euchlaena johnsonariaJohnson's Euchlaena
  • Euchlaena madusariaScrub Euchlaena
  • Euchlaena serrataThe Saw-Wing
  • Eucirroedia pampinaScalloped Sallow
  • Euclea delphiniiSpiny Oak-Slug Moth
  • Eueretagrotis attentusAttentive Dart
  • Eueretagrotis perattentusTwo-Spot Dart
  • Eulia ministranaFerruginous Eulia
  • Eulithis diversilineataLesser Grapevine Looper Moth
  • Eulithis explanataWhite Eulithis
  • Eupithecia miserulataCommon Eupithacia, Common Pug
  • Eupithecia misturataInsignificant Pug
  • Eupsilia sidusSidus Sallow
  • Eupsilia tristigmataThree-Spotted Sallow, Brown Fruitworm
  • Eurois occultaGreat Grey Dart, Great Brocade
  • Eutrapela clematariaCurved-Tooth Geometer, Purplish Brown Looper
  • Euxoa detersaRubbed Dart, Sandhill Cutworm
  • Euxoa redimiculaFillet Dart
  • Feltia jaculiferaDingy Cutworm
  • Fishia illocataWandering Brocade
  • Glena cognatariaBlueberry Gray
  • Glena cribratariaDotted Gray
  • Grapholita packardiCherry Fruit Worm
  • Halysidota tessellarisBanded Tussock Moth, Pale Tiger Moth
  • Harrisimemna trisignataHarris's Three-Spot
  • Hemaris diffinisSnowberry Clearwing
  • Hemaris gracilisSlender Clearwing
  • Hemipachnobia monochromateaSundew Dart
  • Hesperumia sulphurariaSulphur Moth
  • Hyalophora cecropiaCecropia Silkmoth, Cecropia Moth
  • Hypagyrtis unipunctataOne-Spotted Variant
  • Hyphantria cuneaFall Webworm
  • Hyppa xylinoidesCommon Hyppa
  • Iridopsis ephyrariaPale-Winged Gray
  • Iridopsis humariaSmall Purplish Gray
  • Kocakina fidelisIntractable Quaker, Green Fruitworm, Fourlined Green Fruitworm
  • Lacanobia grandisGrand Arches
  • Lacanobia subjunctaSpeckled Arches, Subdues Arches, Harnessed Mamestra, Speckled Cutworm Moth, Grand Arches?(incorrectly)
  • Lacinipolia loreaBridled Arches, Bridle Groundcat
  • Lambdina fiscellariaHemlock Looper, Western Oak Looper
  • Limenitis archippusViceroy
  • Limenitis arthemisBanded Purple, Red-Spotted Admiral
  • Lithacodes fasciolaYellow-Shouldered Slug
  • Lithophane antennataAshen Pinion
  • Lithophane baileyiBailey's Pinion
  • Lithophane bethuneiBethune's Pinion
  • Lithophane patefactaDiomorphic Pinion, Branded Pinion
  • Lithophane petulcaWanton Pinion
  • Lithophane tepidaWarm Gray Pinion, White-Eyes Pinion
  • Lithophane viridipallensPale Green Pinion
  • Lophocampa caryaeHickory Tussock Moth, Hickory Tiger Moth
  • Lycophotia phyllophoraBrick Dart, Leafy Dart
  • Macaria evagariaDrab Angle
  • Machimia tentoriferellaGold-Striped Leaftier Moth
  • Macrochilo orciferalisStreaked Fan-Foot, Bronzy Macrochilo
  • Malacosoma americanaEastern Tent Caterpillar
  • Malacosoma disstriaForest Tent Caterpillar
  • Megalopyge crispataBlack-Waved Flannel Moth, Crinkled Flannel Moth
  • Megalopyge pyxidiferaYellow Flannel Moth
  • Melanchra pictaPainted Arches, Zebra Caterpillar Moth
  • Melanolophia canadariaCanadian Melanolphia, Variable Redmarked Looper
  • Melanomma auricinctariaGold-Lined Melanomma
  • Metarranthis amyrisariaX
  • Metarranthis duariaRuddy Metarranthis
  • Metarranthis hypochrariaCommon Metarranthis
  • Metarranthis obfirmariaYellow-Washed Metarranthis
  • Metarranthis refractariaRefracted Metarranthis
  • Metaxaglaea australisSouthern Sallow
  • Metaxaglaea inultaUnsalted Sallow, Viburnum Sallow
  • Metaxaglaea semitariaFootpath Sallow
  • Metaxaglaea viaticaRoadside Sallow
  • Morrisonia confusaConfused Woodgrain
  • Morrisonia evictaBicolored Woodgrain
  • Morrisonia mucensGray Woodgrain
  • Mythimna unipunctaArmyworm Moth, White Speck
  • Nematocampa resistariaFilament Bearer, Horned Spanworm Moth
  • Ochropleura implectaAmerican Flame-Shouldered Dart
  • Oedemasia concinnaRed-Humped Caterpillar, Red-Humped Appleworm
  • Olethreutes appendiceumServiceberry Leafroller
  • Olethreutes lacunanomLacuna Moth
  • Olethreutes permundanaRaspberry Leafroller
  • Orgyia definitaDefinite Tussock Moth
  • Orgyia leucostigmaWhite-Marked Tussock Moth
  • Orthodes detractaDisparaged Arches, Disparaged Groundcat
  • Orthosia garmaniGarman's Quaker
  • Orthosia hibisciSpeckled Green Fruitworm Moth, Speckled Green Quaker
  • Orthosia rubescensRuby Quaker
  • Orthotaenia undulanaDusky Leafroller
  • Packardia geminataJeweled Tail Slug Moth
  • Pandemis limitataThree-Lined Leafroller Moth
  • Pangrapta decoralisDecorated Owlet
  • Paonias astylusHuckleberry Sphinx
  • Paonias myopsSmall-Eyed Sphinx
  • Papilio glaucusEastern Tiger Swallowtail
  • Paraclemensia acerifoliellaMaple Leafcutter, Maple Case-Bearer
  • Parasa chlorisSmaller Parasa, Green Slug Moth
  • Parasa indeterminaStinging Rose Caterpillar Moth, Rose Slug Caterpillar
  • Phalaenostola metonalisPale Epidelta, Pale Phalaenostola
  • Phigalia strigatariaSmall Phigalia, Small Oak Looper
  • Phigalia titeaThe Half-Wing Geometer, Spiney Looper, Eastern Oak Looper
  • Phlogophora irisOlive Angle Shades
  • Phlogophora periculosaBrown Angle Shades
  • Platynota flavedanaBlack-Shaded Platynota
  • Platynota idaeusalisTufted Apple-Bud Moth
  • Platynota rostranaOmnivorous Platynota
  • Platypolia ancepsGray-Dusted Sallow
  • Polia nimbosaStormy Arches
  • Probole amicariaFriendly Probole
  • Prochoerodes lineolaLarge Maple Spanworm Moth
  • Prolimacodes badiaSkiff Moth, Skiff Caterpillar
  • Protoboarmia porcelariaPorcelain Gray, Dashedlined Looper
  • Protolampra brunneicollisBrown-Collared Dart
  • Psectraglaea carnosaCrimson Sallow
  • Pseudohermonassa bicarneaPink-Spotted Dart
  • Pyrgus centaureaeGrizzled Skipper
  • Rheumaptera hastataSpear-Marked Black Moth, Spear Mark
  • Rhopobota naevanaBlackheaded Fireworm, Holly Bud Moth, Holly Tortrix
  • Satyrium liparopsStriped Hairstreak
  • Schizura ipomaeaeMorning-Glory Prominent, Checkered-Fringe Prominent
  • Scopula limboundataLarge Lace-Border
  • Sicya maculariaSharp-Lined Yellow
  • Spaelotis clandestinaClandestine Dart, W-Marked Cutworm
  • Sparganothis sulfureanaSparganothis Fruitworm Moth, Sulfur Leafroller, False Yellow-Head
  • Sparganothis unifascianaOne-Lined Sparganothis
  • Sphinx drupiferarumWild Cherry Sphinx
  • Sphinx gordiusApple Sphinx
  • Spiramater lutraDarling Mamestra, Splashed Arches, Otter Spiramater, Otter Arches
  • Spodoptera eridaniaSouthern Armyworm Moth
  • Spodoptera frugiperdaFall Armyworm Moth
  • Sunira bicoloragoBicolored Sallow
  • Sutyna privataCheckered Sallow, Private Sallow
  • Thalera pistasciariaPistachio Emerald
  • Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformisEvergreen Bagworm Moth
  • Tortricidia testaceaEarly Button Slug
  • Venusia cambricaThe Welsh Wave
  • Xanthotype sospetaCrocus Geometer
  • Xanthotype urticariaFalse Crocus Geometer
  • Xestia c-nigrumSpotted Cut-Worm, Setaceous Hebrew Character, Lesser Black-letter Dart
  • Xestia dilucidaDull Reddish Dart, Reddish Heath Dart
  • Xestia dolosaGreater Black-Letter Dart, Greater Spotted Cutworm
  • Xestia normanianusNorman's Dart
  • Xestia smithiiSmith's Dart
  • Xylena nuperaRed Swordgrass Moth, American Swordgrass Moth, False Armyworm
  • Xylotype capaxBroad Sallow, Barrens Xylotype
  • Xystopeplus rufagoRed-Winged Sallow
  • Zale aeruginosaGreen-Dusted Zale
  • Zomaria interruptolineanaBroken-Lined Zomaria
  • Acleris maccana
  • Acleris macdunnoughi
  • Ancylis subaequana
  • Aroga argutiola
  • Cenopis karacana
  • Chaetaglaea rhonda
  • Coleophora gaylussaciella
  • Dichomeris vacciniella
  • Hyppa contrasta
  • Neotelphusa praefixa
  • Pseudexentera vaccinii
  • Rhopobota finitimana
  • Sciota crassifasciella
  • Tulsa finitella
Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)
52BeesSoutheastern regional records

Southeastern regional records · Vaccinium

Individual names are not available yet.

Noori, Seltmann & Orr 2026, A curated and integrated dataset for exploring global bee-plant interactions (GloBI), Zenodo, CC BY 4.0
8Specialist beesPollen specialists

Pollen specialists · Vaccinium

  • Andrena bradleyi
  • Andrena carolina
  • Colletes ultravalidus
  • Colletes validus
  • Melitta americana
  • Melitta eickworti
  • Osmia virga
  • Panurginus atramontensis
Smith, Bachelder, Russell, Morales, Mosher & Seltmann 2024, Bee-Specialization-Modeling v0.6.1 (specialist host table compiled from J. Fowler's pollen specialist bee lists), Zenodo, CC BY 4.0
22BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim

Recorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim · Vaccinium

  • Bonasa umbellusRuffed Grouse
  • Calcarius lapponicusLapland Longspur
  • Cardinalis cardinalisNorthern Cardinal
  • Catharus fuscescensVeery
  • Catharus guttatusHermit Thrush
  • Contopus virensEastern Wood-Pewee
  • Dendragapus obscurusDusky Grouse
  • Empidonax flaviventrisYellow-bellied Flycatcher
  • Falcipennis canadensisSpruce Grouse
  • Hylocichla mustelinaWood Thrush
Show all 22
  • Lagopus lagopusWillow Ptarmigan
  • Lagopus leucuraWhite-tailed Ptarmigan
  • Lagopus mutaRock Ptarmigan
  • Pinicola enucleatorPine Grosbeak
  • Plectrophenax nivalisSnow Bunting
  • Sialia sialisEastern Bluebird
  • Spizelloides arboreaAmerican Tree Sparrow
  • Sturnus vulgarisEuropean Starling
  • Turdus migratoriusAmerican Robin
  • Tympanuchus phasianellusSharp-tailed Grouse
  • Tyrannus tyrannusEastern Kingbird
  • Vireo olivaceusRed-eyed Vireo
Hurlbert, Olsen, Sawyer & Winner 2021, Avian Diet Database, Scientific Data 8: 260 (CC0)

Direct food only: birds recorded eating this genus across North America. Caterpillars on host plants also feed nesting birds. NC Native Plant Society: butterfly gardening

No records yet · Ants · Beetles · Flies · Adult butterflies / moths · Other wasps · Other insects

Growing and identification

Plant details

Family
Ericaceae

What its natural habitat tells you

Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.

Also known as

Vaccinium vacillans

Conservation status

Virginia rankS5
Global rankGNR [G4?]
VA statusNot verified
Federal statusNot verified

Conservation source Global and federal source

In your garden

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Sources