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Northern Dwarf Blueberry, Vaccinium boreale Hall and Aalders

Height: A much-branched, clumped shrub, 1-6 cm high with the rootstalks on the surface.

Twigs: Green, warty, and hairy along the grooves.

Leaves: Narrow elliptic, 2-6 mm wide and 0.8-2 cm long, bright green, hairless or rarely hairy along the midvein above, and sharply toothed.

Flowers: White to greenish-white, 3-4 mm long, and in clusters of 2 to 5 (racemes). It starts blooming about 2 weeks before V. angustifolium in the same area.

Fruit: Blue berries with a bloom, 3-5 mm in diameter. They ripen before those of V. angustifolium in the same area.

Habitat: Found throughout Newfoundland and Labrador in alpine meadows, open rocky areas, and exposed coastal headlands.

General: This species, which is similar to V. angustifolium, was first proposed by Hall and Aalders in 1961, mainly on the basis of the chromosome number of 48. Vander Kloet (1977) has reported on some additional characteristics which indicate that “V. boreale should be recognized as a species.” The description is derived mainly from Vander Kloet’s paper.

Source: Native Trees and Shrubs
of Newfoundland and Labrador
By A. Glen Ryan

Used with permission from
Parks and Natural Areas Division
Department of Environment and Conservation
Government of Newfoundland and Labrador 1995