Blueberry

Tasty blue fruits and colorful red fall foliage make blueberries outstanding additions to the landscape. Use them in mixed shrub borders and perennial beds for structure and interest as well as fruit production.

Blueberries demand the right climate and soil but take little care if you provide a site suitable to their somewhat exacting conditions. They require a fair amount of cool weather in the winter and won't grow well in mild winter climates. They grow best in full sun, and well-drained, sandy, acid soil.

Plant at least two varieties for cross-pollination. The most commonly grown blueberry is highbush. Lowbush blueberries grow just 1 foot tall and spread by underground stems to form a dense mat.

Light:

Sun

Zones:

3-9

Plant Type:

Fruit,Shrub

Plant Height:

1 1/2-7 feet tall

Plant Width:

2-10 feet wide

Bloom Time:

Blooms in mid- to late spring

Landscape Uses:

Beds & Borders

Special Features:

Attractive Foliage,Fall Color

Top Varieties

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'Berkeley' blueberry

bears large, firm, pale blue fruit that stores well. The 5- to 6-foot-tall and wide plants have yellow stems in winter. Zones 4-7
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'Bluecrop' blueberry

reliably produces large, light blue fruits with good tart flavor. The 4- to 6-foot-tall bushes are hardy and thrive in a short growing season. Zones 4-8
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'Blueray' blueberry

has very large, firm, sweet fruit. This upright plant thrives in many climates and grows particularly well in the Pacific Northwest. Zones 3-7
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'Coville' blueberry

has large, light-blue fruit that remains tart until near harvest. The fruit of this tall, upright plant are good both fresh and for cooking. Zones 3-7
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'Darrow' blueberry

is a highbrush blueberry with large, sweet fruits said to be the size of nickels. A self-pollinating cultivar, you only need one plant for fruit set. Zones 4-7
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'Duke' blueberry

produces an early crop of large, sweet fruit. This highbush blueberry is commonly grown for both fresh eating and culinary uses. Zones 5-7
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'Jersey' blueberry

has medium, firm berries with good flavor. The 6- to 8-foot-tall bushes are hardy and disease resistant. Zones 4-8
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'Lateblue' blueberry

produces late-ripening, firm, and very flavorful dark blue fruits. Lateblue has a more tart flavor than other berries. Zones 5-7
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'Northblue' blueberry

grows just 1-2 feet tall and is self-pollinating, so you only need one plant to get fruit. The sweet fruit is dark blue and large. Zones 4-8
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'Northcountry' blueberry

produces large, sweet fruit with a mild flavor. A mature 1- to 2-foot-tall plant produces 2-3 pounds of fruit. Zones 4-8
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'Northsky' blueberry

yields a large crop of sweet, sky blue blueberries. The 1- to 2-foot-tall shrub has yellow-orange fall color. Zones 3-7
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'Patriot' blueberry

grows 4 feet tall and produces large, sweet, dark blue fruit. Use this medium-size cultivar in the landscape and enjoy showy spring flowers and bright orange fall foliage. Zones 3-7
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Harvest Tips

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Blueberries are ready to pick 2-4 months after flowering, from July to September. Hold a container in one hand and use your other hand to gently loosen berries from the cluster so they drop into the container. Ripening berries turn from green to pinkish-red to blue, but not all blue ones are fully ripe.

Blueberries are extremely perishable. Store them unwashed in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Enjoy them fresh out of hand, on cereals and in fruit salads, or cooked in baked goods, jams, and preserves. Rinse and dry berries and freeze them in single layers for long-term storage.

Propagation

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Stem Cuttings