How to Grow and Care for Highbush blueberry

Highbush blueberry, also known as Northern highbush blueberry, Swamp blueberry, Blue huckleberry, Tall huckleberry

Highbush blueberry requires acidic, well-drained soil and benefits from a mulch layer to maintain root moisture and temperature. Highbush blueberry's special care points include maintaining soil pH between 4.5 and 5.5 and ensuring adequate cross-pollination for optimal fruit production. Regular pruning is crucial for plant health and fruit quality.

Watering schedule: Every 1-2 weeks

Sunlight Requirements: Full sun

In This Article

Planting and Growing Highbush blueberry

Toughness	High
Care Level	Low
Care Difficulty	Hard
Lifespan	Perennial
Watering Schedule	Every 1-2 weeks
Sunlight Requirements	Full sun
Soil Type	Garden Soil
Soil pH	4.5-5.5
Planting Time	Spring, Fall
Hardiness Zones	5-9

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Varieties of Highbush blueberry

Highbush blueberry 'Patriot'

The highbush blueberry 'Patriot' is a shrub with dark green leaves that turn to a reddish-purple hue in fall. Cultivated in 1976, it's a hybrid of a cross between Dixi and Michigan LB-1 and 'Earliblue' blueberries. In spring, tiny white flowers bloom and give way to delightfully sweet mid-season blueberries. They make good border shrubs or focal pieces for large open areas.

Highbush blueberry 'Pink Lemonade'

Highbush blueberry 'Pink Lemonade' is a type of edible blueberry plant named for how pink its fruits are when they first appear. They are known for being very compact, and for producing fruit quickly. This makes them popular with gardeners in cooler climates where there is less time for the fruit to ripen and be harvested.

Highbush blueberry 'Toro'

Highbush blueberry 'Toro' is a type of edible blueberry plant developed to produce very large and sweet dessert berries. It grows 1.5 to 2 m tall and wide and produces fruit in great abundance during midsummer following the creation of masses of white flowers.

Highbush blueberry 'Bluecrop'

Highbush blueberry 'Bluecrop' is a slightly larger than average blueberry cultivar which produces a lot of fresh and firm berries suitable for many purposes, hence the name. It grows 1.8 to 2.5 m tall and wide and produces berries in midsummer. This cultivar has no serious pest issues for the gardener to worry about.

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More General Info About Highbush blueberry

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Highbush blueberry is characterized as an upright, multi-stemmed deciduous shrub that reaches a height of 8 to 15 feet (2.4 to 4.6 meters). It exhibits a slow growth habit. This plant displays a dense cluster of branches and is notable for its lush foliage that turns fiery in autumn. It bears a seasonal profusion of small, bell-shaped flowers that eventually develop into edible berries. The leaves are oval and have fine-toothed margins, contributing to its ornamental appeal.