This shrub is widespread on acid soils in much of eastern North America, but it is largely absent in the midwest. Variation and hybridization in this species and its close relatives needs further study; see notes under fuscatum (a relatively distinct diploid with 2n = 24), simulatum (a tetraploid) and constablaei (a hexaploid). These and other segregates have been recognized in some treatments (Soltis et al. 2008; W) but lumped in others (FNA 8). In Ky. most or all wild plants are probably tetraploids. These "highbush" blueberries are generally taller than the rhizomatous "lowbush" group: up to (1) 2-3 (7) m versus no more than 0.5-1 m. They tend to have larger leaves on average: mostly (1.5) 3-6 (7) cm long versus (0.5) 2-4 (6) cm. They lack rhizomes but can shoot from running roots in some cases (see literature cited by W). Commercial blueberry cultivars are derived largely from the closely related V. formosum Andrews(W), and are becoming widely grown for production in Ky. These could escape in the future on suitable soils (Y).