Vaccinium corymbosum

Common Names

Highbush Blueberry, Rabbit-eye Blueberry, Rabbiteye Blueberry, Smooth Highbush Blueberry

Summary

Vaccinium corymbosum, commonly known as highbush blueberry, is a deciduous, upright, multi-stemmed shrub native to eastern North America, it typically grows 1.8–3.7 m tall and has simple, alternate leaves that turn red, orange, yellow, or purple in autumn, spring urn-shaped flowers are white or pinkish, followed by edible blue-black berries about 6–12 mm across that ripen in summer and are valued for fruit and ornamental color, it prefers acidic, moist, well-drained soils with a pH around 4.5–5.5 and thrives in full sun to partial shade, regular watering and mulching help maintain moisture and cool roots, plants should be spaced about 1.5 m apart (rows 2.4–3.7 m wide), cross-pollination from multiple cultivars with the same bloom time improves fruit set and yield, with bees as primary pollinators, propagation is possible from seeds or cuttings, and the plant can be grown in ground, containers, or raised beds, suitable for hedges or mass plantings in edible, pollinator, butterfly, children’s gardens, or rain gardens, hardy to USDA Zones 5–8

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

6-12 feet

Spread

72-144 inches

Hardiness Zones

Zones 3-8

Sunlight Requirements

Full Sun to Partial Shade, about 6–8 hours of direct sunlight per day for abundant fruiting.

Soil Type

Moist, acidic, well-drained soil with high organic matter, pH 4.0–5.5

Soil Drainage

Well-drained soil

Soil pH

4.5-5.5

Bloom Color

White to pink

Bloom Time

Spring to Summer

Foliage Color

Green foliage that turns red/purple in autumn.

Fall Foliage Color

Red, Orange, Yellow, Purple

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Medium

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, and Fall.

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Cuttings, Layering

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees, butterflies, and birds