Vaccinium Corymbosum Shrub Height: 6–12 feet, Spread: 4–10 feet, Bloom Color: White or pink-tinged, Upright, broad-spreading, deciduous shrub, Deep green, glossy, oval foliage, Bell-shaped flowers bloom from April to June, Edible waxy, blue-black berries that contain many tiny seeds; spreads by reseeding, Brilliant red-to-burgundy autumn color, No serious pests or diseases; deer and rabbits occasionally severely damage (esp. in winter), Reddish stems can be attractive in winter, Excellent ornamental value, Attracts bees; larval host to various Lepidoptera; many animals eat the berries but esp. birds so cover with netting to protect as crop ripens, Growing and Maintenance Tips: Soil Requirements: Rich, well-drained, acidic, Light Requirements: Full Sun, Partial Shade, Water Requirements: Moist, Wet, Although self-fertile, for best crop yield plant more than one variety with synchronous bloom, In the planting year and the following year, remove flowers to promote growth; starting third year after planting, prune as needed in late winter, Use in shrub border, native plant garden, or as hedge, Hardiness: USDA Zones 5–8, Excellent Replacement for Berberis thunbergii - Japanese Barberry, Euonymus alatus - Burning Bush