Vaccinium floribundum aka Colombian Blueberry

Vaccinium floribundum also goes by the name mortiño. It belongs to the heath family, Ericaceae. Its home range runs from Costa Rica through Venezuela to Salta, Argentina. It grows in the mountains of the tropics. It lives in dry woods, wet forests, and cloud forests. It also grows in high grasslands. Useful Tropical Plants gives its range above sea level: 4,590–14,270 feet [1,400–4,350 metres]. Much of the fruit comes from wild plants, not crops.

This shrub keeps its leaves all year. Its form varies with the site. Some plants stay low or trail along the ground. Others scramble or grow upright. RHS gives garden height and spread as 1.6–3.3 feet [0.5–1 metre]. Plants may need 10–20 years to reach full size. Wild plants can reach 8.2 feet [2.5 metres]. A few reach 11.5 feet [3.5 metres]. Its branches spread, suiting small beds and courtyard gardens. New leaves are bronze-red, then turn dark green with age.

Groups of flowers hang down in early summer. They range from rose pink to white. Insects pollinate them, helping them form edible red fruit. A sunny site helps the plant bear more fruit. People prize the berries where the plant grows wild. Markets in Ecuador and Colombia sell them. Flowers, shifts in leaf colour, and fruit add garden interest. Its small garden size suits pots, patios, and borders too.

Give it sun or part shade and shelter from strong winds. Soil must stay moist but let excess water drain. Sandy soil or loam can suit it. RHS advises an acid soil pH of 4.5–5.5. Raised beds or pots offer one more choice. Use peat-free ericaceous compost, a mix for acid-loving plants. RHS gives it a hardiness rating of H4. Long spells of winter cold can harm it. This holds true despite frost in its home mountains. Give plants in pots some cover from winter cold. Prune older shrubs regularly to help them. Take softwood cuttings in late spring. Take semi-ripe cuttings in early summer.

Vine weevil larvae can harm roots, with plants in pots at greater risk. Birds eat fruit as it ripens; nets can help guard the crop. Diseases may include powdery mildew and root rot. Honey fungus is a rare risk too. A lack of iron or manganese can cause chlorosis, or yellow leaves. Lime in the soil can cause this too. Useful Tropical Plants lists no known hazards. This does not mean the plant is safe for pets.