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Is this a blueberry bush? #607812

Asked December 03, 2019, 5:33 PM EST

Over five years ago I bought what I thought was a blueberry bush from Home Depot through an end of the year clearance sale. This year is the first year that produced any fruit, though I don't think the fruit looks like any blueberries I've ever seen. Can you tell me if you think this is a blueberry bush or is it something else? Thank you for any help you can give me.

Alpena County Michigan

Expert Response

This plant is clearly in the apple family, not blueberry. Probably mis marked at the store. Sorry, it is very hard to tell exactly what type of Apple. My first thought, since the fruits are so small, was that it was a crab apple (ornamental) but since you bought it as a fruit bearing plant, I'm wondering if it might be another strain? Hard to tell.
Thank you, Rebecca, for your prompt response.  I guess I should have remembered the old saying "You get what you pay for."  I wanted to send you a little more information.  I am attaching another photo.  I noticed that the fruit on this bush is clustered in threes.  The size of each is about the size of a quarter.  Also, each branch has lots of short, spiky shoots on them. 
The Question Asker Replied December 05, 2019, 5:27 PM EST
Again, I am sticking with Crab Apple-- but it is so hard to tell which one.  There are some larger fruited varieties that were used to make jams and jellies.  I will send this question to one of our fruit experts to see what they say.  Hopefully, they will be able to tell.  Thanks again for the question.
I agree that this is probably a crabapple.   The other choice is hawthorn, but the leaves are more like crabapples.   Most of the typical crabapple varieties sold by nurseries do not have thorns, but the wild ancestors of these commonly do.  
Based on the picture it appears that your crabapple is a vigorous upright growing tree, which will be likely be a problem if it is close to the house.  It is hard to judge how close the tree actually is, based on the picture.  
An Ask Extension Expert Replied December 06, 2019, 9:13 AM EST

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