Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Ericales
Family: Ericaceae
Genus: Vaccinium
Section: Cyanococcus

General Info

Blueberries are shrubs varying in size from 10 cm tall to 4 m tall.

The smaller species are known as "lowbush blueberries", and the larger species as "highbush blueberries".

The leaves can be either deciduous or evergreen, ovate to lanceolate, and from 1-8 cm long and 0.5-3.5 cm broad.

The flowers are bell-shaped, white, pale pink or red, sometimes tinged greenish.

The fruit is a berry 5-16 mm diameter with a flared "crown" at the end; they are pale greenish at first, then reddish-purple, and finally turn blue or dark purple on ripening.

They have a sweet taste when mature, with variable acidity.

The blueberry season typically runs from May to October, peaking in July

Blueberries are used in jellies, jams, and pies, baked into muffins, and are an ingredient of many other snacks and delicacies.

Plant two varieties for better pollination.

Plants require little care, except adequate moisture and well-drained, acid soil.

Brilliant fall color and intense green spring foliage make blueberries an attractive landscape shrub or hedge.

Plant on 6 ft. centers for bush planting or 4 ft. centers for hedge.

Pruning

Blueberries require minimum pruning. Prune low branches to raise fruit off ground and to facilitate mowing under plants. Remove excessive and weak branches. Head back tall shoots on mature plants to keep size to desired level.

Planting Info

Spacing  6' x 10 '

Soil PH 4.5 - 5.5

Moisture Requirement High

Pruning Requirement  Low

VARIETIES

• Vaccinium angustifoliom (Lowbush Blueberry)
• Vaccinium boreale
• Vaccinium caesariense
• Vaccinium corymbosum (Northern Highbush Blueberry)
• Vaccinium darrowii (Southern Highbush Blueberry)
• Vaccinium elliottii (Elliot Blueberry)
• Vaccinium formosum
• Vaccinium fuscatum (Black Highbush Blueberry)
• Vaccinium hirsutum (Hairy-fruited Blueberry)
• Vaccinium koreanum
• Vaccinium myrsinites (Evergreen Blueberry)
• Vaccinium myrtilloides (Canadian Blueberry)
• Vaccinium pallidum (Dryland Blueberry)
• Vaccinium simulatum
• Vaccinium tenellum (Southern Blueberry)
• Vaccinium virgatum (Rabbiteye Blueberry)

BRIGHTWELL - Tall and spreading growth. Large, firm fruit with little to no picking scar. Midseason variety, ripens early-mid June. One of the most popular varieties.

CLIMAX - One of the earliest ripening varieties. Upright growth. Most of the berries ripen at one time. Medium, dark blue fruit. Recommended for home and commercial plantings. Good pollinator. Beautiful fall color. Harvest begins in late May - early June.

PREMIER - Popular for pick-your-own plantings and home orchards. Early ripening, high yielder. Vigorous plant. Large, bright blue fruit of excellent quality. Ripens mid June.

TIFBLUE - Most productive and widely planted variety. Highly recommended for commercial or home use because of berry quality, appearance, and high yields. Upright, vigorous plants. Medium, light-blue berries maintain quality on bush. Excellent choice for landscape plantings due to attractive fall color. Ripens mid June.