| Author | Michaux | |
| Distribution | Known only from two high-elevation locations in the Mountains, so far recorded only in Avery and Haywood counties.
This is a Northern species, ranging from Canada south to NY, MI, and northern IL, but it does occur south in the Appalachians to western NC. | |
| Abundance | Very rare. Known from only two sites, one in Avery County and the other in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (Haywood County). For some odd reason, it is not listed in NC by the NCNHP, though it should be, and should be on their rare list. This website suggests Significantly Rare status. | |
| Habitat | This is a species of high-elevation dry or rocky forests, in acidic soil conditions. | |
| Phenology | Blooms mostly in May, and fruits from May to July. | |
| Identification | This is a low-growing deciduous shrub, generally only 1-2 feet tall at the most, and often found in colonies. It is a remarkably "hoary" species, with strongly white-haired and fuzzy stems, easily visible. Otherwise, the leaves are a bit typical of the genus, being 1-1.5 inches long, elliptical, and entire on the margins. The undersides of the leaves, however, are quite tomentose, whereas the uppersides are not noticeably hairy. It has fairly typical small, pinkish to creamy white urn-shaped flowers. The fruits are blue with a bit of a glaucous bloom. Though this shrub has hardly been seen by biologists in the state, it should not be easily overlooked, particularly if found growing in colonies. | |
| Taxonomic Comments | None
| |
| Other Common Name(s) | Canada Blueberry, Sourtop Blueberry, Common Blueberry | |
| State Rank | [S1] | |
| Global Rank | G5 | |
| State Status | [SR-P] | |
| US Status | | |
| USACE-agcp | FAC link |
| USACE-emp | FACW link |
