|                    Shiny blueberry
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                |                    Vaccinium myrsinites  
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                |                    Ericaceae 
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                 Landscape Uses:
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                 Primarily recommended for natural landscapes and habitat restorations.  Also an accent shrub. | 
               
                Ecological Restoration Notes:  | 
               
              
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                | Availability: | 
               
              
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                 Commonly available at native plant nurseries in central Florida. Available at native plant nurseries in northeast Florida. | 
               
              
                | Description: | 
               
              
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                 Small compact densely-branched shrub with numerous underground branches.  Leaves small, thick and shiny green, about 1/4 to 3/4 inches long. | 
               
              
                | Height: | 
               
              
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                 Typically, 1-2 feet in height.  Spreading from underground stems and forming masses broader than tall. | 
               
              
                | Growth Rate: | 
               
              
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                 Slow. | 
               
              
                | Range: | 
               
              
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                 Southeastern United States south to Miami-Dade and Collier counties. | 
               
              
                | Habitats: | 
               
              
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                 Pinelands. | 
               
              
                | Soils: | 
               
              
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                 Moist to dry, well-drained sandy soils, without humus, acid pH. | 
               
              
                | Nutritional Requirements: | 
               
              
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                 Low; it grows in nutrient poor soils. | 
               
              
                | Salt Water Tolerance: | 
               
              
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                 Low; does not tolerate long-term flooding by salt or brackish water. | 
               
              
                | Salt Wind Tolerance: | 
               
              
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                 Moderate; grows near salt water, but is protected from direct salt spray by other vegetation. | 
               
              
                | Drought Tolerance: | 
               
              
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                 High; does not require any supplemental water once established. | 
               
              
                | Light Requirements: | 
               
              
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                 Full sun. | 
               
              
                | Flower Color: | 
               
              
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                 White to pink. | 
               
              
                | Flower Characteristics: | 
               
              
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                 Semi-showy. | 
               
              
                | Flowering Season: | 
               
              
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                 Spring. | 
               
              
                | Fruit: | 
               
              
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                 Black berry.  Edible. | 
               
              
                | Wildlife and Ecology: | 
               
              
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                 Provides food and cover for wildlife. Attracts bee pollinators.  Birds and other animals eat the fruits. | 
               
                     
                | Horticultural Notes: | 
               
              
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                 Can be grown from de-pulped seed. | 
               
              
                | Comments: | 
               
              
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                 See also the Florida Wildflower Foundation's  Flower Friday page. 
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                    James Johnson, 2014 In habitat, Blazingstar Preserve, Palm Beach County, Florida Enlarge
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                    James Johnson, 2014 In habitat, Hillsboro Pineland Natural Area, Broward County, Florida
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