Shrub
Highbush blueberry
Vaccinium corymbosum
A fruiting shrub with spring flowers, blue summer berries and colourful autumn leaves. It needs acidic soil, reliable moisture and room for the chosen cultivar.
- Size
- 1–1.5 m high · 1–1.5 m wideVaries by cultivar
- Light
- Full sun / Partial shade
- Water
- Moderate
- Winter
- Hardy
- Seasonal form
- Deciduous
- Maintenance
- Moderate
Before planting
- Provide acidic soil (pH 4.5–5.5) that holds moisture yet drains freely. If your soil is unsuitable, use a large pot filled with ericaceous compost.
- Choose a sunny, sheltered position. Light shade is tolerated, although a sunny site generally gives a better crop.
- Many cultivars can crop alone, but a different highbush cultivar flowering at the same time can improve yield and berry size.
Why choose it
- Pick the blue berries in summer for eating fresh or making preserves; the harvest season depends on the cultivar.
- White or pink spring flowers and red to purple autumn foliage give this fruit shrub ornamental interest.
Care
- Keep the root zone moist during dry weather, especially in pots and while fruit develops. Prefer rainwater; use tap water if necessary rather than letting the plant dry out.
- Mulch with pine bark to conserve moisture. Prune while dormant, removing weak or dead shoots and gradually replacing some of the oldest stems on mature bushes.
- Insulate pots during prolonged freezes. If frost threatens open flowers, cover them overnight and uncover by day so pollinating insects can visit.
Good to know
- The stated garden size is a guide, not a species maximum: some cultivars exceed 2 m. Check the eventual size before buying.
- This is distinct from European bilberry. Half-high hybrids and warm-climate blueberry cultivars can have different growth and winter requirements.