Vaccinium nummularia

RHS Plant Profile
Nummularia-like blueberry

Save a plant

Where do you want to save Vaccinium nummularia?

Plants I own
Wishlist
Go to My Plants
Nummularia-like blueberry RHS
Shrubs
Buy this from Plant Nurseries
4 Suppliers

A low-growing, compact, evergreen shrub to around 20cm high with slender, bristly shoots bearing small, dark green, wrinkled leaves. Small racemes of bell-shaped, white to pink flowers are borne at the tips of the shoots in early summer and are followed by globular, black edible berries

Position

Partial shade

Soil Types

Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
10–20 years
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH
Acid

Position

Partial shade
Aspect
West–facing or South–facing or East–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H4

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Ericaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Bushy
Genus
Vaccinium can be evergreen or deciduous shrubs or small trees, with simple leaves and small, bell- or urn-shaped flowers followed by juicy, sometimes edible berries
Name Status
Correct
Plant Range
Himalaya

How to Grow

Cultivation

Plant in a sheltered site in well-drained, moisture-retentive, acidic soil in part shade. Alternatively grow in containers or raised beds filled with ericaceous compost

Propagation

Propagate by seed or by semi-ripe cuttings in summer

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Rock garden
  • Patio and container plants
  • Low Maintenance
  • Edible fruit

Pruning

Pruning group 1

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

May be susceptible to honey fungus (rarely), powdery mildews, root rot and chlorosis due to iron and manganese deficiency; see nutrient deficiencies