Blueberries are usually prostrate shrubs that can vary in size from 10 centimeters (3.9 in) to 4 meters (13 ft) in height. In the commercial production of blueberries, the smaller species are known as “lowbush blueberries” (synonymous with “wild”), while the larger species are known as “highbush blueberries”.

Blueberries are flowering plants with indigo colored berries. They are classified in the section Cyanococcus within the genus Vaccinium. Vaccinium also includes cranberries, bilberries, and gooseberries. Commercial “blueberries” are native to North America, and the “highbush” varieties were not introduced into Europe until the 1930s.