Advice
RHS Help & Advice
Blueberry cultivars
Early highbush blueberries (ripening from July)
‘Bluetta’ Compact, moderately vigorous and slightly spreading; very hardy.
‘Duke’ AGM Sturdy, upright habit; 1.5m (5ft) high; yellow/orange autumn colour; mild flavour and good keeping qualities; very hardy; heavy cropping – branches may need support if heavily laden; blooms late although fruits early, so a good choice for areas with late frosts.
‘Spartan’ AGM Upright habit, particularly fussy about well-drained soil with plenty of organic matter; orange autumn colour and rich, tangy flavour; very hardy.
‘Patriot’ Open habit, fairly vigorous, large berries with excellent flavour; some tolerance of wetter soils; fairly hardy; fruit does not keep as well as some others; fruits in two main flushes; resistant to root rots; early to mid season.
Mid-season highbush blueberries (ripening from July - August)
‘Toro’ Stocky, compact, slow growing; attractive pinkish flowers and brilliant red autumn colour; bronzy young growth; large, full-flavoured berries in hanging clusters; tends to ripen quickly and have a concentrated period of harvest.
‘Hardyblue’ Upright, vigorous, high yielding; large bush; some tolerance of heavier soils; very hardy; yellow/orange autumn colour; red stems all winter; sweet flavour.
‘Bluecrop’ Vigorous, very open and erect habit; high yielding; good flavour but berries can be tart if picked too early (when still reddish); red autumn colour; very common cultivar grown worldwide.
‘Legacy’ Vigorous, upright and then spreading; better for mild southern areas; may be evergreen in warmer climates; bright orange autumn colour; high yielding; one of the best flavoured.
‘Chandler’ The largest fruits of all the cultivars; better in areas with mild winters, but doesn’t mind a long winter; vigorous, upright but well branched habit; 1.5m (5ft) high; mid-late season harvest.
Late season highbush blueberries (ripening from August - September)
‘Nelson’ Very hardy; vigorous, upright habit; large berries with good flavour; mid-late season.
‘Brigitta’ Upright, vigorous habit; 1.5m (5ft) high; easy to grow in all climates; large firm berries that keep exceptionally well for up to eight weeks in the fridge; no ability to be self-fertile.
‘Elliot’ The latest of all; best grown with other late season blueberries to ensure cross-pollination occurs; vigorous, upright habit; high yields of small to medium fruits.
Half-high blueberries
‘NorthCountry’ Small fruits with authentic wild American blueberry taste; up to 40cm (16in) high and 1m (3ft) spread; some tolerance of less acid soils; tendency to sucker; excellent autumn colour.
‘Northsky’ Extremely hardy but also grows well in warmer climates; 30-40cm (12-16in) high and 60-90cm (2-3ft) spread; dense foliage and brilliant red autumn colour; profuse white blossom and small berries with a wild blueberry flavour; fairly reliably self fertile.
‘Northblue’ Larger fruits than many of the other half-highs; very hardy; 60-90cm (2-3ft) high; can over-crop, and blossom thinning may be necessary in the earlier years to prevent the bush producing fruit at the expense of formative growth.
‘Chippewa’ Fruit of a size and flavour more akin to the highbush varieties than to the wild American lowbush blueberry; up to 1m (3ft) high with a compact, spreading habit.
Southern highbush blueberries
‘Misty’ Suitable for warm areas with hot summers and mild winters; usually evergreen; bright but glaucous foliage; shocking pink flowers; medium to large berries with excellent flavour.
‘Sunshine Blue’ Only for mild areas; may be evergreen; compact, up to 1m (3ft) in height; more tolerant of less acidic soils; brilliant pink flowers fading to white; heavy crops of tangy, medium sized berries over a long period; quite self fertile.
Maya Albert