VACCINIUM. Widespread in the Northern Hemisphere. Besides the commercial blueberries and cranberries, this genus includes a number of highly ornamental shrubs, prized for foliage as well as berries. They range in habit from treelike to matting. The leaves are normally pointed-oval in form, but of various textures and evergreen to completely deciduous. The flowers are urn shaped to cylindrical, often nodding, and usually colored white to pink, though some tropical species come in dazzling reds. Berries are variable in size, shape and color. Some, like the commercial blueberries, are among the most delicious of all fruits. The following thrive in sun or shade near the coast, shade inland, well drained, acid soil, and moderate watering. Hardiness varies.

moupinense. Western China. A bushy plant, generally under 2' high but eventually 3' or more broad. The short stems are crowded with dark, shiny 1/2" leaves, lighter and tinged with red in new growth. The small, brownish flowers are not very conspicuous but give way to nearly black berries. 15^oF or less.

ovatum ‘Wunderlich’. Evergreen huckleberry. An exceptionally vigorous, large leaved form of this ornamental native, selected by Suzanne Schettler. It forms a thicket of closely branched stems, rising to 8' or more. Each is lined by oval, shiny 1" leaves. The leaves are red to bronze in new growth, dark green when mature. Small white flowers dot the branches in spring, developing slowly into sweet, slightly tart, blue-black berries. Finally about to make its debut is my own selection, ‘Blue Madonna’. This is a smaller and more compact shrub, with almost chalky blue leaves, red-tinged in new growth. In other respects, it resembles ‘Wunderlich’. Probably 5-10^oF.

vitis-idaea. Foxberry. A bushy little shrub, 8-12" tall in this selection, branching closely above ground and spreading slowly by underground rhizomes. The stems are densely packed with 1/2" oval, shiny leaves, bronze tinted in new growth and dark green when mature. The clustered white flowers, appearing in late spring, develop into bright red, edible berries by late fall, held for many weeks. An attractive container, rock garden and foundation plant. 0^oF or less.