Blueberry vs. Myrtle — What's the Difference?

Nutritious berries.

Aromatic evergreen.

Grown for fruit.

Star-shaped flowers.

Popular in diets.

Ornamental use.

Fruit-bearing shrub.

Adaptable plant.

Requires cold winters.

Traditional medicine.

Blueberries are a widely distributed and widespread group of perennial flowering plants with blue or purple berries. They are classified in the section Cyanococcus within the genus Vaccinium.

Any of several evergreen shrubs or trees of the genus Myrtus, especially M. communis, an aromatic shrub native to the Mediterranean region, having white flowers and blue-black berries and widely cultivated as a hedge plant.

A small sweet blue-black edible berry which grows in clusters on North American shrubs related to the bilberry.

Any of several other evergreen shrubs or trees, such as the wax myrtle.

One of the dwarf shrubs that produces blueberries, some kinds being cultivated for their fruit or as ornamentals.

The periwinkle Vinca minor.

Any of various plants of the genus Vaccinium, having white to reddish, urn-shaped or tubular flowers and edible blue to blue-black berries, especially the highbush blueberry and the lowbush blueberry.

An evergreen shrub or small tree of the genus Myrtus, native to southern Europe and north Africa.

The fruit of any of these plants.

Cyrilla spp.

A usually blue-gray spherule that is found in soil and sedimentary rock and is rich in hematite, produced by the weathering of rock or by precipitation from rock by moving groundwater.

A species of the genus Myrtus, especially Myrtus communis. The common myrtle has a shrubby, upright stem, eight or ten feet high. Its branches form a close, full head, thickly covered with ovate or lanceolate evergreen leaves. It has solitary axillary white or rosy flowers, followed by black several-seeded berries. The ancients considered it sacred to Venus. The flowers, leaves, and berries are used variously in perfumery and as a condiment, and the beautifully mottled wood is used in turning.

(countable) An edible round berry, belonging to the cowberry group (Vaccinium sect. Cyanococcus), with flared crowns at the end, that turns blue on ripening.

Widely cultivated as a groundcover for its dark green shiny leaves and usually blue-violet flowers

(countable) The shrub of the above-mentioned berry.

Any evergreen shrub or tree of the genus Myrtus

A dark blue colour.

Of a dark blue colour.

To gather or forage for blueberries.

The berry of several species of Vaccinium, an ericaceous genus, differing from the American huckleberries in containing numerous minute seeds instead of ten nutlets. The commonest species are Vaccinium Pennsylvanicum and Vaccinium vacillans. Vaccinium corymbosum is the tall blueberry.

Any of numerous shrubs of the genus Vaccinium bearing blueberries

Sweet edible dark-blue berries of either low-growing or high-growing blueberry plants

Myrtle berries are edible but are not commonly consumed as they are more valued for their ornamental and aromatic properties.

Blueberries are known for their nutritional benefits, while myrtle has been used in traditional remedies, particularly its leaves and berries.

Blueberries are primarily grown for their edible fruit, while myrtle is used for ornamental purposes and its aromatic qualities.

Their high content of vitamins, antioxidants, and dietary fiber makes them a nutritious addition to various diets.

Blueberries require specific soil pH and pruning for fruit production, while myrtle needs less specific care but does best in sunny spots.

Blueberry flowers are bell-shaped, often white to pink, while myrtle flowers are star-shaped and white.

Blueberries thrive in acidic, well-drained soil with cold winters, whereas myrtle is more adaptable but prefers sunny locations.

Both plants provide habitat and food for wildlife, but blueberries specifically offer nutritious berries for birds and insects.

Myrtle has been associated with love and marriage in various cultures, symbolizing fertility and peace.

Myrtle prefers warmer climates but can tolerate some cold if properly protected.

Blueberry plants typically begin to bear fruit 2 to 3 years after planting.

Blueberries are widely used in culinary applications, while myrtle leaves and berries are used occasionally in traditional cooking and medicine.

Soil pH affects nutrient availability for blueberries; acidic soil is essential for their growth and fruit production.

Both plants prefer well-drained soil, but blueberries may require more consistent moisture during the fruiting season.

Yes, there are numerous varieties of both, adapted to different climates and offering various sizes, flavors, and ornamental qualities.