Blueberry (Hardy half-high)

Hardy half-high blueberries

These hybrids between highbush blueberries (V. corymbosum) and northeastern native lowbush blueberries (V. angustifolium) were developed for extreme hardiness in cold-winter climates. Most grow 1 to 4 ft. tall and produce sweet blue berries in summer.

‘Chippewa'. Midseason. Grows 4 ft. tall. Large, light blue fruit with excellent, sweet flavor.

&lsquo.... Densely branched, to 1 1/2 ft. tall. Light blue berries with hint of wild blueberry flavor. Good

How to choose and grow blueberries

Blueberries thrive under conditions that suit rhododendrons and azaleas, to which they are related. They need cool, moist, well drained acid soil (pH 4.5–5.5). Where soil isn–t acidic enough, either create proper conditions in garden soil or grow in containers filled with acidic... at least 4–5 ft. apart.

Blueberries are available bare root or in containers. Plant in early... that it is no deeper than 1/2 in. below the ground. Blueberries have fine roots near the soil surface; keep them moist

Blueberry

Native to eastern North America; for ornamental species, see Vaccinium.

Most blueberries grown for fruit are also handsome shrubs suitable for hedges or shrub borders. Leaves, to 3 in. long... flowers are white or pinkish. Summer fruit is decorative.

Blueberries thrive under conditions... about how to grow blueberries, go to How to Choose and Grow Blueberries.

Blueberry (Lowbush)

Lowbush Blueberry

of hardy half-high blueberries.

Blueberry (Rabbiteye)

These selections of Vaccinium virgatum (V. ashei) are native to the southeastern U.S. and can be grown in mild-winter areas from California to the Gulf Coast if given acid soil conditions. Unlike most blueberries, these tolerate heat. Often taller and rangier than highbush plants, growing to more than 6 ft. high and wide, they ripen large, light blue berries from May to July. Quality does not equal that of highbush blueberries, but it is still quite good. Plants have good

Blueberry (Southern highbush)

Southern Highbush Blueberry

other blueberries. Evergreen.

Blueberry (Northern highbush)

Native from Maine to Florida, east to Louisiana. Selections of Vaccinium corymbosum, these are the blueberries found in grocery stores. Most varieties grow upright to 6 ft. or more; a few are rather sprawling and under 5 ft. The majority are northern varieties: they require definite winter cold and ripen fruit from late spring to late summer.

‘Berkeley&lsquo... hybrid that stays under 1 1/2 ft.; good for pots. Small fruit with mild flavor.

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Vaccinium

Huckleberry

Excellent ornamental shrubs that include native and non-native cranberries, huckleberries, lingonberries, and blueberries. Each produces clusters of tiny, bell-shaped flowers in spring, plus colorful, edible berries that attract birds and hikers.

Most require organically enriched, acid soil, and thrive in woodland gardens. For specific info about edible Blueberries see that entry.

Amelanchier

Juneberry

Graceful, airy plants grow about twice as high as wide. Bloom in early spring, just before or during leafout, bearing drooping clusters of white or pinkish flowers that are showy but short lived. Fruits follow in summer; they are similar to blueberries though with a somewhat musty flavor. Use them in pies and preserves—if you can get to them before the birds do (in Alaska, birds have thus far seemed uninterested in fruit). Purplish new spring foliage turns deep green in summer

Actaea

Botanists recently combined this genus with Cimicifuga, and in doing so, they lumped together plants of markedly different sizes and garden uses. The baneberries (Actaea) are small (under 2 1/2 ft....

Elaeocarpus decipiens

Japanese Blueberry Tree

From Japan, China. To 30–60 ft. tall, 20–30 ft. wide, with densely branched upright habit. New leaves are rusty and hairy, turning smooth and bright green as they mature. Oldest leaves eventually drop (this is an evergreen), turning red before they fall. Blooms come in summer, producing tiny, scented white flowers in 1 1/2–3-in.-long clusters; these are followed by blue-black fruits that look like small olives.

This is an attractive street or lawn tree. Grow

Rubus

Brambles

Though best known for blackberries and raspberries (see those common names for information about edibles), the brambles include many ornamental plants as well, most of them thornless. The species d...