Vaccinium darrowii aka Darrow's Blueberry

Vaccinium darrowii is also known as Darrow's blueberry. This evergreen shrub belongs to the heath family, Ericaceae. It comes from the southeastern United States, where the climate is subtropical. Its native range includes Florida and southern parts of three states. These are Alabama, Georgia, and Mississippi. It also grows in eastern Louisiana. This species is not native to Britain or Ireland.

The shrub forms a small, dense, rounded bush with blue-green leaves. These stay on the plant through winter. In gardens, it grows about 3.3–4.9 feet (1–1.5 metres) tall and wide. It takes 10–20 years to reach its full size. White, bell-shaped flowers bloom in groups in spring. Dark blue fruit follows in summer. You can eat the berries fresh or cooked. Plants For A Future rates their food value as low. It lists no known uses as medicine and no known hazards. This does not mean it has checked all safety risks.

Choose a sheltered spot with sun or partial shade. The soil should hold moisture but let excess water drain away. Sandy or loamy soil suits it, as long as it is acidic. The RHS gives a suitable pH range of 4.5–5.5. Pots and raised beds offer other ways to meet these needs. Fill them with peat-free compost made for plants that need acid soil. Protect plants in pots from winter weather to help them. The RHS rates this species H4 for the UK. That rating covers minimum temperatures of about 14–23°F (−10 to −5°C).

Its round shape, year-round leaves, and fruit suit small gardens. The RHS suggests it for courtyards and coastal plots. It also suggests it for informal gardens. It can grow in an edible garden or food forest, too. The RHS advises planting three different cultivars to help pollination and fruit yield. Regular pruning helps older plants. To raise more plants, take softwood cuttings in late spring. You can also take semi-ripe cuttings in early summer.

Vine weevil larvae can harm plants, with those in pots at greater risk. Birds may take the ripe fruit; netting can protect the crop. Powdery mildew and root rot may affect the plant. Honey fungus can occur, though the RHS says it is rare. A lack of iron and manganese can cause chlorosis. Plants For A Future does not flag this species as weedy.