Gems of Maryland’s
Piedmont Region
What better way to celebrate summer than to showcase some of Maryland’s more than 3,000 native plants.
This series explores plants native to the Piedmont Region, which runs from southern New York to northern Alabama. It includes all of Baltimore, Carroll, Frederick, Howard, Montgomery, Baltimore, and Harford counties in Maryland. It extends into Baltimore City and Cecil County, Maryland.
The Northern Highbush Blueberry
Beautiful and tasty
Looking for a beautiful and bountiful shrub? Consider adding the Northern highbush blueberry, Vaccinium corymbosum, to your garden. A deciduous shrub, it attracts people, birds and butterflies with its beautiful and delicious flowers and berries. The colorful fall foliage offers an additional bonus.
Blueberry bushes are critical plants. Blueberries are keystone plants, one of 14% of native plants that support 90% of butterfly and moth caterpillar species that terrestrial birds need to feed their young, according to Dr. Doug Tallamay, University of Delaware. These indispensable plants also support many specialist native bee species and wildlife.
Blueberry bushes add beauty and function to any garden. While blueberry bushes can be grown individually and will produce fruit since they self-pollinate, it is best to plant 2 to 3 varieties whose blooming times overlap. The plants will cross pollinate generating a higher yield and larger fruit, according to the Spruce. You can also extend your harvest season from July through mid-September by planting different varieties. (Plant two or three of each variety.)
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