Photo from iNaturalist user Connie Nagele

Photo from iNaturalist user Daniel Estabrooks

Photo from iNaturalist user Daniel Estabrooks

Phonetic Spelling vak-SIN-ee-um da-ROW-ee Plant Type: Small shrub Plant Height: 2’-3’ Plant Spread: 2’-3’ Sunlight Preference: Full sun to partial shade Soil Preference: moist, well-drained acidic sandy soils, does not tolerate wet, but tolerates dry soil. Uses in Landscaping: Border plant or as an accent shrub around larger shrubs. Stays compact and can be shaped into balls. Keep away from concrete which can affect the acidity of the soil. Ease of purchase/acquiring: Relatively common for purchase. How and When to Plant: Plant whenever but water in for the first year until established. Once established they have high drought tolerance. Upkeep: Little upkeep needed, can be pruned to shape as a ball or other rotund shape but grows slow so pruning is infrequent. Can spread underground by rhizomes. Charismatic/ID Features: Flowers/Fruits: Flowers are white with hints of pink sometimes and are urn shaped. They hang down from the flowers forming in late winter to early spring. Flowers develop into small blue berries that are edible blueberries. Leaves: Leaves are small and alternating and can have hints of blue or red to them. New growth and leaves in the winter tend to be more red adding a nice pop of color. Leaves are evergreen.