This deciduous shrub has a short greyish trunk with slender spreading branches that form an open rounded habit. It has leathery mid-green oval leaves and the small pinkish urn-shaped flowers appear solitary from late spring or early summer.

Hardiness zones 5 to 9

Vaccinium alaskaenseis naturally found in North America from Alaska to north-west Oregon growing in the Cascade and coastal mountains amongst woodlands on the slopes and in the valleys in moist sites, from sea level to an altitude of 1,600 m (4,830 ft).

It prefers a open sunny to partially shaded protected position and grows in well-drained organic rich moist soils that are tending acidic with a pH 4.5-6 and is frost tolerant but tender.

The Alaskan Blueberry is grown for its colourful fruit and a bushy habit. It is planted along borders in parks and gardens to attract birds or used in native gardens as a specimen. It is suitable for coastal low-mountain regions establishing in 3-4 years and is moderately long-lived. This shrub is also used in woodland restoration programmes but may be difficult to obtain requiring a specialist nursery.ID 3342

Vaccinium(va-KEEN-ee-um) alaskaense(ah-LAS-kah-EN-see)

Ericaceae(er-ek-AY-see-ee)
Bilberries, Blueberries,Cranberies, Heathers, Heaths, Rhododendrons, Wintergreens