Vaccinium corymbosum – New Jersey Blueberry

General Information: This upright, multi-stemmed acid-loving deciduous shrub produces an abundance of delicious fruits and adds nice fall color to the landscape. Naturally found in bogs, swamps, and high-elevation forests, Highbush Blueberry, can be planted with other acid-loving plants, including Lowbush Blueberry and Rhododendron. They also can be grown to provide wildlife food, however if they are intended for fruit production they will have to be protected from wildlife. Plant multiple varieties for staggered fruit set, variation in berry size, and a higher yield. Scroll through variations and check each variety’s descriptions to create a list of optimal selections! Consider selecting for a long season of fruit production by utilizing a mix of early, mid, and late-season varieties. With multiple varieties, you can extend the Blueberry season from June to mid-September!

Edible Qualities: A delicious and well-loved summer fruit. Useful for fresh eating, baking, and making preserves, pies, etc. Select a variety from the drop-down menu for further specifications regarding each of our selections.

Cultivation Details: Highbush Blueberry are not self-fertile—plant two or more compatible varieties for fruit set. Select varieties with compatible flowering times to ensure fruit set. Encourage root strength and overall development by pinching flowers during the first couple of years. Best to prune in late winter or very early spring. Easy to grow. Requires little maintenance once established. Ideal soil pH is around 5.0. Archaeological evidence shows this plant as having been a widely cultivated staple food by Indigenous Peoples in North America. Plants require regular fertilization. Consider amendments with Chicken manure, Pine shavings, and/or Pine needles.

Growing Requirements: Plant in full sun. Prefers moist soils. In most gardens, the plants will require mulch. Tolerates most soil types if amended with mulch and moisture-holding organic matter. Suitable for very acidic to mildly acidic soils. Does not tolerate alkaline soils.