Elliott's blueberry facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Elliott's blueberry |
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V. elliotti
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| Vaccinium elliottii Chapm. 1860
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Vaccinium elliottii is commonly called Elliott's blueberry. It is a type of blueberry plant. You can find it growing naturally in the southeastern and south-central United States. This includes states from southeastern Virginia down to Florida, and west to Arkansas and Texas.
Contents
How Elliott's Blueberry Grows
Elliott's blueberry is a deciduous shrub. This means it's a woody plant that loses its leaves every autumn. It can grow to be about 2 to 4 meters (6.5 to 13 feet) tall.
Leaves and Flowers
The plant has small, simple leaves. They are shaped like an oval with a pointed tip. Each leaf is about 15 to 30 millimeters (0.6 to 1.2 inches) long. Their edges have tiny saw-like teeth.
The flowers are a pale pink color. They look like small bells and are about 6 to 8 millimeters long. These flowers open in early spring. They appear even before the new leaves start to grow.
The Berries
The fruit of the Elliott's blueberry is an edible berry. It is usually 5 to 8 millimeters across. There are two main types of these berries. One type has shiny, blue-black berries that taste a bit tart. The other type is sweeter. It has a whitish, waxy coating over its blue-black skin.
These berries ripen at different times depending on where they grow. In Florida, they are ready in late spring. In states like Arkansas and Virginia, they ripen later, during the summer.
Growing and Using the Berries
Elliott's blueberry plants produce many berries. They are known for having a very large harvest. The berries can be a little sour, but they are still popular. People often grow them because they produce fruit later in the season. This means you can enjoy fresh blueberries even when other types are finished.
Images for kids
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Vaccinium elliottii - Leaves
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An unripe Elliott's blueberry, the actual berry is at the picture's bottom.
