Decorating with blueberry branches is popular these days! We also explain the language of flowers!

While blueberries are often associated with health foods and ice cream flavors, recently, blueberry branches have become widely available.
They are now even used as decorations in prestigious locations such as hotel lobbies, making them a 주목 (chumoku - 주목 means "attention" or "focus," but in this context "注目されている" translates to "receiving attention" or "being noticed") branch in the flower industry. They are recommended both as home decor and as gifts for loved ones.
This time, we will introduce blueberries.
From the language of flowers to their history, we will explain everything in detail, so please use this as a reference when choosing products.

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What are blueberries?

Blueberries are known as "Numa Suguri" (bog currant) in Japanese. As a branch sold at flower shops, they are often sold under the name "Blueberry".
They are characterized by their refreshing green color and bear many fruits. One of their charms is that if you display the branches for a while, the berries will turn blue.
Their availability is a bit short, from late May to mid-July. They are wonderful branches that bring early summer into your room, so if you find them, please pick them up.
With their graceful branches and refreshing atmosphere, they are a favorite among florists.

What is the origin of the name "Blueberry"?

As the name suggests, blueberries are named after the blue berries they bear.
When the berries first appear, they are a refreshing yellowish-green, but as they ripen, they gradually turn purple to blue.
This blue color is due to anthocyanins, which are stored to protect the berries from the sun's ultraviolet rays.

The Meaning of Blueberry Flower Language

The flower meanings of blueberries are "fruitful life," "meaningful life," "goodwill," "intellect," "kindness," "trust," and "compassion." They have many meanings.
"Fruitful life" comes from the fact that blueberries bear many fruits. "Intellect" and "trust" come from blueberries being used as medicine.
"Compassion" and "goodwill" are said to be associated with blueberries bringing health and joy.
All of these are wonderful meanings, making them suitable branches to present to superiors or loved ones.

What is the history of blueberries?

Blueberries are plants that have been cherished since ancient times and have been closely intertwined with human history.
Here, let's take a closer look at the history of blueberries. Surely, your impression of the blueberries you usually eat will change.
If you have an opportunity to give blueberries as a gift, please share this trivia.

Blueberries are a plant beloved by Native Americans

Blueberries are native to North America. Native Americans there have used blueberries as food for thousands of years.
They were eaten raw, dried and stored as food for winter, and used in pemmican, a preserved food made by mixing dried bison or moose meat with fat.
They were also used as medicine, primarily as a cough suppressant.
Blueberries were considered a "gift from the heavens" by Native Americans and were also used in rituals. A legend states that because the tips of blueberry fruits are 'star-shaped (pentagonal)', they were called 'starberries', and the Great Spirit dropped the stars to save them from hunger.
(Source: University of Maine "About the Maine Wild Blueberry")
(Source: University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture "Blueberries Pack a Nutritional Punch with Few Calories")

Blueberries also played an active role during the American pioneering era.

In the 17th century, Europeans began to settle in the Americas, and they, too, grew fond of blueberries.
They primarily made them into jams, pie fillings, and pancake ingredients. They also used them as medicine, just as Native Americans did.
There are records indicating they were effective as medicine for digestive issues.
However, at this time, they didn't seem to think about cultivating blueberries and instead hand-picked wild ones.
Additionally, early settlers used blueberries not only for food but also as a dye mixed into milk paint to color furniture and house interiors a grayish-blue (blue-gray).
(Reference: Vision Magazine "A Wild History Packed into a Small, Blue Berry")
(Reference: KidsGardening.org "Blueberries Growing Guide")

Blueberry cultivation began surprisingly late!

It is said that commercial blueberry cultivation only truly began in the 20th century.
In 1908, American botanist Frederick Coville began research to see if blueberries could be cultivated and discovered that acidic soil was necessary.
Subsequently, in 1911, he collaborated with local farmer Elizabeth White to select and improve wild varieties. They finally succeeded in cultivating them.
Then, in 1916, the world's first commercially grown blueberries were harvested and entered the market.
(Source: USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) "Blueberries Around the Globe – Past, Present, and Future")

Today, it's a huge hit as a "superfood"!

Blueberries gained global attention as a health food, as they are known today, due to research in the 1990s.
Research by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and others revealed that blueberries contain some of the highest levels of antioxidants (such as anthocyanins) among fruits.

This established their status as a "superfood." Today, research is also advancing not only on eye health but also on brain health and cognitive functions (such as memory), further expanding their role as a delicious and healthy fruit.
(Source: USDA Agricultural Research Service "Can Foods Forestall Aging?")

What is the history of blueberries in Japan?

Blueberries were truly introduced to Japan after World War II, in 1951 (Showa 26).
It all began when a professor from Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology requested blueberry seeds suitable for Japan's climate from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and received them. Initially, it was for research cultivation to determine if they could adapt to Japan's soil and climate.

After a long period of research, commercial cultivation (as an agricultural product) of blueberries in Japan began in 1968 (Showa 43) in Kodaira City, Tokyo. Initially, they weren't very popular, with people saying things like "the color is strange," but as blueberry processing into jam and other products progressed, they gradually gained popularity and grew into the beloved fruit they are today.
(Reference: Kodaira City "Kodaira, the birthplace of blueberry cultivation")
(Reference: Tokyo Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Fan Club "Visiting a Blueberry Farm: Enjoying Freshly Picked Small, Sweet-Sour Fruits at the Birthplace of Cultivation")

Serious cultivation also begins in Japan.

Serious cultivation also begins in Japan. In 1968 (Showa 43), a farmer in Kodaira City, Tokyo, succeeded in the first commercial cultivation (as an agricultural product) of blueberries in Japan. Subsequently, in the 1970s, full-scale cultivation began in Nagano, Ibaraki, Chiba, and other prefectures, spreading throughout Japan.

In the 1990s, the "Japan Blueberry Association" was established (1994), accelerating the dissemination of cultivation techniques. Simultaneously, the anthocyanins contained in blueberries were widely featured in the media as being "good for the eyes," instantly establishing their status as a health food.

Today, they are known as one of the superfoods and are enjoyed raw or in supplements. And recently, decorating with blueberry branches with fruit has started to become a quiet trend at flower shops...
(Reference: Kodaira City "Kodaira, the birthplace of blueberry cultivation")
(Reference: Japan Blueberry Association "About the Blueberry Association")
(Reference: Chiba Prefecture "Blueberry | Seasonal Fresh Produce Guide")

Blueberry branches are gaining popularity recently!?

Blueberries were mainly known as a food product, but in the last two years or so, they have increasingly been sold as branches.
The charm of blueberry branches lies in their slightly bluish, refreshing leaf color and the cuteness of the unripe berries.
They are stylish and beautiful branches perfect for early summer, so we hope many people will enjoy decorating with them.

Also great for birthday presents!

Bouquets that combine blueberries with seasonal flowers are perfect for birthday gifts and wedding anniversary presents.
They are available in early summer, so pairing them with refreshing flowers like sunflowers and globe thistles would be a wonderful way to express the season.
When giving a bouquet as a gift, please check if the recipient has a vase.

Bouquet featuring blueberries

Sunflower Bouquet "Blue Lemonade" GR Size

¥14,300-

View Product Page ▶︎

Also wonderful as store decor!

Blueberry branches have a refreshing feel that soothes observers.
For example, they are perfect for interior decoration in apparel shops. By bringing the season into the store, customers will surely be able to relax and browse.
Blueberry branches are a bit heavier than other branches, so please make sure to fill the vase with plenty of water and check that it won't tip over before displaying them.

Recommended! Blueberry Branches

Seasonal Branches 50-60cm "5 Blueberry Branches"

¥6,600-

View Product Page ▶︎

Of course, it's also great for decorating your home!

Not only for gifts, but also highly recommended for decorating your own home.
Branches with distinct green leaves and lovely green blueberries hanging abundantly. Please enjoy decorating your room with them.
If the berries are kept in good condition, they will ripen and turn blue! Please enjoy this transformation as well.
However, these are not edible blueberries, so they might not taste good...

Summary

The flower meanings of blueberries are "fruitful life," "meaningful life," "goodwill," "intellect," "kindness," "trust," and "compassion."
Since these are all positive flower meanings, it's perfectly fine to present them to your superiors or loved ones!
These unique branches offer a refreshing early summer atmosphere, so please enjoy decorating your room with them.

◆Revision History
December 11, 2025: Some years corrected. References and sources added.