Blueberries are deciduous, fruit-producing perennial shrubs. They have many densely branching stems and make rather attractive landscaping plants. In the springtime, blueberries bloom with clusters of nodding, bell-shaped flowers that pollinators love.
From late spring until mid-fall, different varieties of blueberries will produce an abundance of sweet and edible fruits that can be eaten straight off the plant or used for baking and preserving.
Blueberries are members of the heath family (Ericaceae). The blueberry genus, Vaccinium, includes several unique species, and from these, over 150 tasty cultivars have been developed. The five primary varieties of blueberries are:
- Northern Highbush, Vaccinium corymbosum – Native to eastern North America and the Pacific Northwest
- Southern Highbush, Vaccinium formosum – Native to the southeastern United States
- Lowbush, Vaccinium angustifolium – Native to the cooler climates of eastern North America
- Rabbiteye, Vaccinium virgatum – Native to the southeastern United States
- Half-high – A naturally occurring hybrid, Vaccinium corymbosum x V. angustifolium, that tends to be quite cold-tolerant
Blueberry plants grow best and will produce the most abundant harvest when planted in full sun. Plants grown in partial shade will still grow well and look nice as landscaping plants but will tend to have lower yields. Blueberry plants also appreciate consistently moist, well-drained, and acidic soil. If your yard doesn’t naturally have these conditions, you must do some soil amending before planting your blueberries.
As a landscaping plant, blueberry shrubs are valuable to a pollinator or wildlife-friendly garden. They work well in a naturalized area or as part of a shrubby hedgerow. And, of course, blueberry shrubs are an ideal plant for an edible landscape. There are very small and low-growing varieties and large, bushy shrubs, so you will probably find a blueberry variety that suits your needs.
Are you ready to enjoy some tasty blueberries? Let’s look closer at 27 different blueberry varieties you can grow in a home garden!
‘Atlantic’
The ‘Atlantic’ cultivar suits moderate climates and boasts large, flavorful fruits on a spreading plant.
 | botanical name Vaccinium corymbosum ‘Atlantic’ |
|---|---|
 | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
 | height 6 – 8 feet |
 | hardiness zones 5 – 8 |
‘Atlantic’ is a medium-sized northern highbush cultivar. This variety is best suited to moderate climate zones. It is a spreading plant that will produce multiple canes and must be pruned regularly to manage growth. ‘Atlantic’ is very productive and produces fruits in the mid to late season. The fruits are large and firm with excellent flavor.
‘Bluecrop’
A popular and sturdy mid-season northern highbush blueberry, ‘Bluecrop’ is highly productive.
| | botanical name Vaccinium corymbosum ‘Bluecrop’ |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 6 – 8 feet |
| | hardiness zones 5 – 7 |
‘Bluecrop’ is a medium-sized northern highbush cultivar. ‘Bluecrop’ is a vigorously growing hardy plant with upright stems. It produces fruits in mid-season. The fruits are medium to large-sized, firm, and crack-resistant.
‘Bluecrop’ fruits ripen over an extended period, contributing to a long harvest season. This is a very popular variety of blueberry.
‘Blue Jay’
This is a fast-growing, disease-resistant bush yielding large, tart fruits.
| | botanical name Vaccinium corymbosum ‘Blue Jay’ |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 5 – 7 feet |
| | hardiness zones 5 – 7 |
‘Blue Jay’ is a fast-growing northern highbush cultivar. Plants are very vigorous and will spread by sending up new root suckers each year. ‘Blue Jay’ bushes are upright with an open growth form and are resistant to mummy berry disease.
The fruits are large, firm, and somewhat tart. These plants produce a medium to high yield, and the fruits will hang on the bush for a long time, allowing you ample time to pick your blueberries during its extended harvest season.
‘Blueray’
This robust, early-season northern highbush type yields large, flavorful fruits.
| | botanical name Vaccinium corymbosum ‘Blueray’ |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 6 – 8 feet |
| | hardiness zones 5 – 8 |
‘Blueray’ is a medium-sized northern highbush cultivar. It produces a medium to high yield of fruits in the early to mid-season. The fruits are large and high quality with excellent flavor. Plants are upright and vigorous growers with a tendency to spread freely. ‘Blueray’ is a hardy shrub that performs well in warmer climates.
‘Bluetta’
The ‘Bluetta’ cultivar is a medium-sized northern highbush with early ripening fruits.
| | botanical name Vaccinium corymbosum ‘Bluetta’ |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 5 – 7 feet |
| | hardiness zones 5 – 8 |
‘Bluetta’ is a medium-sized northern highbush cultivar. This variety ripens early in the season and produces medium-sized fruits. The fruits are crack-resistant, have good flavor, and are slightly softer in texture.
‘Bluetta’ fruits can hang on the bush for a long time, allowing for an extended harvest season. These shrubs are moderately vigorous and stay fairly compact.
‘Draper’
This cultivar yields firm, medium to large berries with a short but plentiful harvest season.
| | botanical name Vaccinium corymbosum ‘Draper’ |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 4 – 5 feet |
| | hardiness zones 3 – 7 |
‘Draper’ is a northern highbush cultivar with a compact, rounded form. The berries ripen in early to mid-season. The fruits are medium to large-sized and firm with a mild flavor.
‘Draper’ produces a high yield, but the fruits ripen quickly for a relatively short harvest season. But don’t worry; you may pick many fruits all at once, but they store well to enjoy the sweet berries later.
‘Duke’
This vigorously spreading cultivar yields medium to large-sized, firm blueberries.
| | botanical name Vaccinium corymbosum ‘Duke’ |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 5 – 7 feet |
| | hardiness zones 5 – 8 |
‘Duke’ is a medium-sized northern highbush cultivar. It fruits in early to mid-season on vigorous, upright plants. ‘Duke’ will spread, sprouting new canes as root suckers. These plants produce medium to large-sized, firm, light-blue fruits.
The fruits ripen quickly, leading to a relatively short harvest season. On the upside, this is a high-yielding variety, so you should still have plenty of blueberries to pick.
‘Earliblue’
A vigorous northern highbush variety, ‘Earliblue’ has an upright growth habit.
| | botanical name Vaccinium corymbosum ‘Earliblue’ |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 4 – 5 feet |
| | hardiness zones 4 – 8 |
‘Earliblue’ is a vigorous northern highbush cultivar. These shrubs have an upright, spreading growth habit and will develop several new canes each year.
‘Earliblue’ is an early-season producer and should be planted in a sunny spot with another early-season variety to help increase fruiting yield. The light blue fruits are large and firm with good flavor.
‘Elliott’
This is a late-season, tart-fruited northern highbush cultivar, best planted alongside another late-season variety.
| | botanical name Vaccinium corymbosum ‘Elliott’ |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 4 – 6 feet |
| | hardiness zones 5 – 8 |
‘Elliott’ is a small to medium-sized northern highbush cultivar. This hardy, late-season plant produces its fruits in the fall. Plant ‘Elliott’ with another late-season variety for cross-pollination for the best fruit set and flavor.
‘Elliott’ produces medium-sized, light blue, firm fruits. The fruits are tart and high-yielding. This shrub is quite ornamental, with attractive red stems that provide winter interest.
‘Herbert’
This medium-sized northern highbush cultivar is known for exceptionally large, soft blueberries.
| | botanical name Vaccinium corymbosum ‘Herbert’ |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 6 – 8 feet |
| | hardiness zones 5 – 8 |
‘Herbert’ is a medium-sized northern highbush cultivar with exceptionally large fruits. The blueberries of this variety are big and have excellent flavor, although they tend to be somewhat soft.
These plants have an open, spreading form, developing new canes around the parent plants. Reddish stems stay attractive throughout the winter months.
‘Jersey’
This variety has sweet, light blue fruits and reddish-tinted stems.
| | botanical name Vaccinium corymbosum ‘Jersey’ |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 6 – 8 feet |
| | hardiness zones 5 – 8 |
‘Jersey’ is a popular, medium-sized, northern highbush cultivar. It is a hardy plant with a vigorous and upright growth form. This plant has reddish-tinted stems that are attractive throughout the year. The fruits are light blue, medium-sized, and very sweet. ‘Jersey’ generates a medium yield, and the firm fruits will store well.
‘Legacy’
A mid to late-season producer, ‘Legacy’ is highly productive with large, firm, flavorful fruits.
| | botanical name Vaccinium corymbosum ‘Legacy’ |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 4 – 5 feet |
| | hardiness zones 5 – 8 |
‘Legacy’ is a medium-sized northern highbush cultivar. It is a mid to late-season producer with vigorous, highly productive shrubs. ‘Legacy’ fruits are medium to large-sized, firm, and have excellent flavor.
The fruits hang on the plant for a long time, allowing for a long harvest season. Even after harvest, ‘Legacy’ holds onto its showy, bright red fall foliage throughout the winter, making for a very ornamental shrub for your landscape.
Lowbush Blueberry
This thrives in cooler climates, growing naturally in rocky areas and woodlands.
| | botanical name Vaccinium angustifolium |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 0.5 – 2 feet |
| | hardiness zones 2 – 8 |
The lowbush blueberry is native to northeastern North America, from Canada south into Tennessee and North Carolina. It grows naturally around sunny rocky outcroppings and open coniferous woodlands.
This species is notably low-growing, and many cultivars are derived from the lowbush blueberry. The fruits tend to be small but quite sweet. This is an excellent plant for a wildlife-friendly garden. Lowbush blueberry plants thrive in cooler climates.
‘Northblue’
Medium to large dark blue fruits of good flavor appear on ‘Northblue’ mid-season.
| | botanical name Vaccinium corymbosum x angustifolium ‘Northblue’ |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 2 – 3 feet |
| | hardiness zones 3 – 7 |
‘Northblue’ is a half-high cultivar that stays fairly compact and dense. The bushes are upright with an open growth form. The berries ripen in mid-season.
‘Northblue’ fruits are medium to large-sized, dark blue, and have a good flavor. This cultivar produces a medium yield, which can be increased by planting another mid-season blueberry variety nearby.
Northern Highbush Blueberry
This plant yields abundant sweet fruit, often attracting local wildlife.
| | botanical name Vaccinium corymbosum |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | height 6 – 12 feet |
| | hardiness zones 3 – 8 |
The northern highbush blueberry is native to eastern North America, from Canada south to the southeastern United States. It grows naturally in open woodlands, low, bottomland forests, and moist, high-elevation forests.
Use the native highbush blueberry in the same way as any of the cultivars. It produces plenty of tasty, sweet fruit you may need to share with the neighborhood birds.
‘Northland’
This is known for its prolific, early-to-mid-season production of medium-sized soft fruits.
| | botanical name Vaccinium corymbosum x angustifolium ‘Northland’ |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 3 – 4 feet |
| | hardiness zones 3 – 7 |
‘Northland’ is a half-high cultivar that stays fairly small and compact. The plants are vigorous, very winter hardy, and spread readily by sending up new root suckers around the parent plant.
This popular variety produces early to mid-season fruits. The fruits are medium-sized, somewhat soft, flavorful, and yield excellently.
‘Olympia’
Sweet, crack-resistant, mid-to-late season fruits are a benefit of ‘Olympia.’
| | botanical name Vaccinium corymbosum ‘Olympia’ |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 4 – 5 feet |
| | hardiness zones 5 – 8 |
‘Olympia’ is a medium-sized northern highbush cultivar well-adapted to growing in the Pacific Northwest. It has vigorous, upright plants that will regularly send up new canes. ‘Olympia’ requires cross-fertilization and needs to be planted near another blueberry variety to produce fruits. The fruits are medium size, bright blue, and ripen in mid to late season. They are sweet and crack-resistant.
‘Ozarkblue’
‘Ozarkblue’ yields large, flavorful fruits early in warmer climates.
| | botanical name Vaccinium corymbosum ‘Ozarkblue’ |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 2 – 4 feet |
| | hardiness zones 5 – 9 |
This is a compact southern highbush cultivar. This variety does very well in warmer climates and is a good option for the southeastern United States. ‘Ozarkblue’ is a vigorous, upright shrub with an open growth pattern. It is an early-season, high-yield producer. The fruits are large and firm with excellent flavor.
‘Perpetua’
This dual-cropping half-high cultivar yields two berry crops annually.
| | botanical name Vaccinium corymbosum x angustifolium ‘Perpetua’ |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 4 – 5 feet |
| | hardiness zones 4 – 8 |
‘Perpetua’ is a half-high cultivar well-suited for growing in the Pacific Northwest. Bushes are medium-sized and compact with an upright growth form. ‘Perpetua’ is unique because it produces two berry crops annually. The first crop is early, with a somewhat low yield. Then, enjoy a second, larger crop in the late season.
The berries are small to medium-sized and dark blue. The foliage is glossy green, and the shrubs will retain their beautifully colored bronze fall foliage throughout the winter in most of their range.
‘Pink Lemonade’
This variety is known for its beautiful pink fruits and red fall foliage.
| | botanical name Vaccinium virgatum ‘Pink Lemonade’ |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 4 – 5 feet |
| | hardiness zones 4 – 9 |
‘Pink Lemonade’ is a medium-sized rabbiteye cultivar. It performs well in warmer climates and makes a wonderful ornamental plant. Not only will you enjoy the typical red fall foliage of a blueberry shrub, but you will also enjoy the beautiful pink fruits.
When fully ripe, ‘Pink Lemonade’ berries are bright pink rather than maturing to blue. This variety ripens in mid to late season with many medium-sized, sweet fruits.
‘Powderblue’
This is a late-season rabbiteye shrub thriving in the Southeastern U.S., bearing small, pink-to-blue fruits.
| | botanical name Vaccinium virgatum ‘Powderblue’ |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 6 – 10 feet |
| | hardiness zones 6 – 9 |
‘Powderblue’ is a late-season rabbiteye cultivar. It is best grown in the warmer climate of the southeastern United States. These shrubs are vigorous with an upright growth pattern, spreading by root suckers.
The fruits are small, ripening from pink to light blue. They have good flavor and are resistant to splitting. ‘Powderblue’ is a taller shrub that will produce a medium to high yield of delicious fruits.
Rabbiteye Blueberry
This cultivar performs well in warm climates.
| | botanical name Vaccinium virgatum |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 10 – 15 feet |
| | hardiness zones 6 – 9 |
Rabbiteye blueberry plants are native to the southeastern United States. They are known as rabbiteye because the fruits turn from green to pink before they are fully ripe and turn blue. There are many rabbiteye blueberry cultivars that all make excellent garden plants.
These shrubs can grow rather large and adapt well to warmer climate zones. They appreciate moist, well-drained soil rich in organic matter. Rabbiteye blueberries display beautiful deep red fall foliage and can be appreciated throughout the year.
Southern Highbush Blueberry
The southern highbush blueberry thrives in the Southeast, excelling in various wet conditions.
| | botanical name Vaccinium formosum |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 4 – 13 feet |
| | hardiness zones 4 – 9 |
The southern highbush blueberry is native to the southeastern United States. These plants are especially well adapted to moist soils and can happily live alongside swamps, bogs, streams, seeps, and other wet areas in and around your landscape. They would make an excellent rain garden plant.
While Southern highbush blueberry plants tolerate a range of climates, they perform best in warmer areas. If you’re looking for a native blueberry plant for a southeastern garden, southern highbush is a great choice.
‘Spartan’
A medium-sized variety, ‘Spartan’ has large, firm, flavorful light blue fruits.
| | botanical name Vaccinium corymbosum ‘Spartan’ |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 4 – 5 feet |
| | hardiness zones 4 – 8 |
‘Spartan’ is a medium-sized northern highbush cultivar. This is an early to mid-season ripening variety. The vigorous plants develop an upright and open growth pattern. The light blue fruits are very large, firm, and flavorful. Plant ‘Spartan’ near another mid-season producing blueberry to increase the fruit crop for both bushes.
‘Sunshine Blue’
This compact, ornamental southern highbush with pink flowers is perfect for containers.
| | botanical name Vaccinium formosum ‘Sunshine Blue’ |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 3 – 4 feet |
| | hardiness zones 5 – 10 |
‘Sunshine Blue’ is a southern highbush variety that’s an excellent choice for warmer climates. This compact bush is a good choice for smaller spaces and would grow well in a container garden.
The flowers are white to pink, and their dense clusters are quite ornamental. ‘Sunshine Blue’ produces an abundant crop of delicious medium-sized fruits. The fruits ripen in mid-season and have a long harvest period.
‘Tifblue’
Another Rabbiteye type, ‘Tifblue,’ thrives in warmer climates.
| | botanical name Vaccinium ashei ‘Tifblue’ |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 6 – 8 feet |
| | hardiness zones 7 – 9 |
‘Tifblue’ is a medium to large-sized rabbiteye cultivar that performs well in warmer climates. It is a mid-season producer with a medium to high yield.
The light blue fruits are small and firm. They can be tart when not fully ripe, making excellent berries for cooking and preserving. ‘Tifblue’ shrubs are vigorous, with an erect growth form and dense foliage.
‘Toro’
This cultivar has large, flavorful blue fruits and is perfect for containers in cooler climates.
| | botanical name Vaccinium corymbosum ‘Toro’ |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 3 – 4 feet |
| | hardiness zones 3 – 8 |
‘Toro’ is a compact Northern highbush cultivar with beautiful pink flowers. These plants are stocky and compact, making this a good variety of container gardening. ‘Toro’ is vigorous and hardy and works well for cooler climates.
The fruits are large, bright blue, and have good flavor. Plants are high-yielding and produce in mid-season, but fruits ripen quickly for a short harvest window. Grow ‘Toro’ with another mid-season variety for the best fruit set and to help prolong the harvest season.
Frequently Asked Questions
Some varieties of blueberry are self-fertile and will produce their own fruits, while other varieties need a companion for successful pollination. All varieties of blueberry, however, will typically produce larger fruits, more abundant fruits, and an overall better harvest if planted near a different variety of blueberry. It doesn’t matter which varieties you plant together as long as they flower at about the same time. For example, grow a couple of early-season plants together, or grow a couple of late-season varieties together.
Blueberry bushes should be pruned in late winter or early spring each year. Do your pruning before new growth begins. Use sharp pruners to remove the smallest and weakest branches, leaving the thickest and strongest-looking branches. Pruning encourages your plants to develop flowers and fruits on the healthiest and largest branches. This will ultimately increase fruit production.
Blueberries bear fruits anytime from late spring through fall, but not until the bushes are a few years old. Blueberry plants sold in garden centers are typically between one and three years old. In general, you can expect these plants to start bearing fruit one or two years after planting. It is recommended that you prune your blueberry to discourage fruiting for its first five years. This encourages the plant to focus its energy on developing a robust root system first before putting its energy into flowering and fruiting.
Final Thoughts
Blueberry bushes are an excellent choice for the home landscape if you have the space for a couple of beautiful fruit-producing shrubs. There are so many different blueberry varieties; you will surely find some that grow well for you.
Pollinators will enjoy the spring-blooming flowers. The sweet, delicious fruits please the palate and attract birds. And the beautiful red fall foliage keeps these plants interesting throughout the year. Even if you have never grown fruit previously, blueberries are a great way to start your edible landscape!
