Image Credits
New England's Rarities 1672, courtesy of the Smithsonian Museum, Public Domain
Description
Blueberry bushes are an understory plant that provided a big harvest. Native Americans, bears, birds, and the Dutch settlers all enjoyed blueberries in season. The Native Americans also dried blueberries so that they could be used throughout the winter. They are mentioned extensively in New England's Rarities.
Blueberry seeds were found in the archeological digs of lower Manhattan. See a detailed article on the archeology of plant life in New Amsterdam by Joel Grossman, PhD., courtesy of the Holland Society of New York here.