Another sparkleberry from Pat in SC

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There are several scattered through the moist, pine and hardwood mixed woodlands, dappled to heavy shade. The shrubs get about 6 feet tall, nicely round tops almost like an umbrella, thin woody, multiple trunks. The flowers are fragrant. The shrub is usually near pines. If I remember right the leaves turned muted dark red-green in fall. Photos taken 5-14-2016.

Hi Pat,

your shrub is a sparkleberry, Vaccinium arboreum, which is a relative of the blueberry but the berries are barely edible.  It is rather common in this area.  It is undoubtedly a good honey plant for bees.

Sincerely,

Steven R. Hill, Botanist, SCNPS

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