Dr. Hill, I am grateful for your help with plant identification! Here is a photo of a bush about 18 feet high growing in a hardwood forest in the Piedmont of SC…
Thanks, Jim!
this new shrub is called Vaccinium arboreum, usually called farkleberry or sparkleberry. It is a relative of the edible blueberry, but its berries seem less tasty and nearly dry and are not used much by people. It is fairly common in our area.
Sincerely,
Steven R. Hill, Botanist, SCNPS