New Jersey Fruit

High Bush Blueberry

(Vaccinium corymbosum)

Adopted in 2003.

The blueberry, Vaccinium corymbosum,  which was first cultivated in Whitesbog, became the official state fruit in 2004. In 2003, fourth graders at Veteran's Memorial Elementary School in Brick campaigned to make the blueberry the official state fruit. The students had their idea introduced as legislation and conducted a lobbying campaign to see its passage, including media interviews, a letter and petition drive, presentations to local governing bodies, and a trip to the state's blueberry festival in Whitesbog. In addition, the classes traveled to Trenton to make presentations before Senate and Assembly Committees. Elizabeth Coleman White developed the nation's first cultivated blueberry.

Blueberries were first cultivated in the Garden State in 1916, by
Elizabeth White, whose father owned a cranberry plantation. The Garden State now grows 22 percent of the nation's blueberries, a ranking that puts in second among all berry-producing states.

Some 42 million pounds of blueberries were harvested in New Jersey in
2002, which were worth nearly $47 million. Michigan produces the most of the cultivated variety while Maine is the largest producer of the wild variety.

This highbush blueberry cultivar is an upright, deciduous shrub which typically grows 5-8' tall (less frequently taller), but is arguably more manageable as a fruit crop when pruned to 6' or less. Dainty, waxy, bell-shaped, white flowers appear in May. Flowers are followed by medium blue blueberries (to 1/2" diameter) which ripen in early season (early July in USDA Zone 5). Ovate, dark green leaves (to 3.5" long) turn attractive shades of red in fall. Reddish stems can be attractive in winter.

Common Name: Highbush blueberry
Plant Type: Fruit
Family: Ericaceae
Missouri Native: No
Native Range: None
Height: 6 to 8 feet
Spread: 6 to 8 feet
Bloom Time: May
Bloom Color: White
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium to wet