Blueberries grow in many USDA hardiness zones, but you need a variety that can grow in your particular zone. You can find low-bush, mid-bush, and high-bush types of blueberries. These terms describe the height of the plants.
The low-bush varieties you can typically grow in containers, indoors or outdoors. Highbush types you need to grow outdoors. When a blueberry plant says highbush, it means business. It will grow the same height as an adult human male. You probably do not want that in a container in your condo.
Which of these varieties you grow is up to you, but the following tips will help you choose the best variety for your needs. Choose Bluecrop, Blueray, Herbert, Jersey, or Meader if you live in a place with cold winters.
Choose Berkeley, Bluecrop, Blueray, Coville, Darrow, or Herbert if you like large blueberries. Choose Blueray, Darrow, Herbert, Ivanhoe, Pioneer, Stanley, or Wareham for the best-flavored fruit.
Which of these varieties you grow is up to you, but the following tips will help you choose the best variety for your needs. Choose Bluecrop, Blueray, Herbert, Jersey, or Meader if you live in a place with cold winters.
Choose Berkeley, Bluecrop, Blueray, Coville, Darrow, or Herbert if you like large blueberries. Choose Blueray, Darrow, Herbert, Ivanhoe, Pioneer, Stanley, or Wareham for the best-flavored fruit.
Related: Blueberry Muffin Recipe | Get Blueberry Stains Out of Carpet | Types of Food | Types of Scones | Types of Garnish | How to Store Blueberries | How to Clean Blueberries | Blueberry Substitute Options | What Goes Well with Blueberries | Blackberries vs. Blueberries
Prepare yourself because there are many varieties of blueberries. This may seem daunting, but you have many choices.
Highbush
Scientifically known as Vaccinium corymbosum. As the nickname says, this grows to quite a bushy height of about six feet tall. Although it gets referred to as a shrub, think of this plant more as a tree. It grows well in zones four to seven.
Top Hat
This breeder variety of blueberry grows well in small spaces. The agriculturists at The University of Michigan created it specifically for growth in containers.
Pink Lemonade
You can grow these pink blueberries in nearly any climate in the US. They borrow from the genetics of the Deep South variety of rabbiteye blueberries making them hearty and able to withstand heat.
Pink Champagne
This extra-sweet variety of pink blueberries contains a large number of antioxidants.
Lowbush
Scientifically known as Vaccinium angustifolium. These small bushes grow well in many hardiness zones. In zones three through seven, this cold weather blueberry grows well.
Half-High
This hybrid variety combines the best qualities of lowbush and highbush blueberries to create the half-high blueberry. It actually does grow to a shrub or bush height.
Northcountry
The University of Minnesota also got into creating blueberry variants and created this variety that grows to between 18 to 24 inches in height. It produces mild-flavored, aromatic blueberries.
Northblue
This popular pies variety grows to between 20 and 30 inches in height. You will likely grow a bumper crop of dark-blue berries approximately the size of a nickel.
Northland
Think of this as a half-high variety since it can grow to between three to four feet tall. Another Michigan variant, produces what cooks call a bland flavor fruit.
Rabbiteye
Scientifically known as Vaccinium virgatum. This variety grows well in the southeastern US. It is a pest-tolerant variety that adapts well and produces much fruit. You must plant them with two or more varieties, so it pollinates. It grows well in zones seven to nine. Its variants include:
- Powderblue,
- Woodard,
- Brightwell.
Southern Highbush
This human height hybrid combines the virtues of the Vaccinium virgatum, Vaccinium corymbosum, and Vaccinium darrowii. This is tougher to grow than rabbiteye but will do well in zones seven to nine. Its variants include:
- Emerald,
- Windsor,
- Springhigh.
Earliblue
This very early blooming large variety of blueberry grows well in zone eight. This upright, spreading variety produces firm, dessert-quality aromatic berries.
Bluetta
This very early blooming large variety of blueberry grows well in zone five. This spreading variety produces soft, fair-quality berries.
Ivanhoe
This early-blooming medium-sized variety of blueberry grows well in zone seven. This upright variety produces excellent, high dessert quality aromatic berries.
Patriot
This early-blooming large variety of blueberry grows well in zone eight. This upright variety produces very good quality, firm, aromatic berries on a small bush.
Stanley
This early-blooming medium-sized variety of blueberry grows well in zone seven. This upright variety produces very good quality, firm, high dessert quality aromatic berries.
Blueray
This late early season blooming large variety of blueberry grows well in zone eight. This spreading variety produces very well, high dessert quality aromatic berries.
Duke
This late early-blooming large variety of blueberry grows well in zone eight. This upright variety produces firm blueberries on a bush with a bumper crop expected since it consistently produces a high yield.
Collins
This late early-blooming large variety of blueberry grows well in zone eight. This upright, spreading variety produces firm, good dessert quality aromatic berries.
Bluecrop
This mid-season blooming large variety of blueberries grows well in zone nine. This upright variety produces firm, good quality slightly aromatic berries. It is one of the most popular varieties.
Berkeley
This mid-season very large variety of blueberry grows well in zone eight. This upright, spreading variety produces mild, firm blueberries that store well.
Concord
This mid-season small variety of blueberry grows well in zone six. This upright, spreading variety produces soft, good dessert quality slightly aromatic blueberries.
Pioneer
This mid-season medium variety of blueberry grows well in zone six. This spreading variety produces firm, very good, high dessert quality aromatic blueberries.
Atlantic
This late mid-season large variety of blueberries grows well in zone seven. This wide-spreading variety produces firm, medium dessert quality slightly aromatic blueberries.
Herbert
This late mid-season very large variety of blueberries grows well in zone seven. This wide-spreading variety produces soft, very high dessert quality aromatic blueberries. You’re likely to get an excellent quality and quantity crop from this variety.
Legacy
This late mid-season large variety of blueberry grows well in zone eight. This upright, spreading variety produces firm, high dessert quality aromatic blueberries. These berries store well.
Dixi
This late-blooming large variety of blueberry grows well in zone six. This wide-spreading variety produces firm, very high dessert quality aromatic blueberries. You will probably grow a large crop with the Dixi.
Elizabeth
This late-blooming large variety of blueberry grows well in zone eight. This wide-spreading variety produces an excellent crop of slightly acidic, very high dessert quality aromatic blueberries.
Darrow
This late-blooming very large variety of blueberry grows well in zone eight. An upright variety, it produces excellent, firm, slightly acidic, high dessert quality blueberries.
Wareham
This late-blooming medium-sized variety of blueberry grows well in zone six. This spreading variety produces an excellent crop of soft, good dessert-quality aromatic blueberries.
Tophat
This late-blooming medium-sized variety of blueberry grows well in zone seven. This dwarf variety produces a fair crop of the firm, baking blueberries. It only grows to two feet tall and requires no pollinator.
Coville
This late-blooming large variety of blueberries grows well in zone seven. This wide-spreading variety produces a very good tart, very high dessert quality aromatic blueberries.
Bluegold
This late-blooming medium-sized variety of blueberry grows well in zone eight. This upright, spreading variety produces an excellent crop of medium firmness blueberries. This productive, winter hardy bush provides plenty of munchies.
Jersey
This very late blooming medium variety of blueberry grows well in zone six. This upright variety produces a good crop of classically tasting blueberries. This variety stores well.
Late Blue
This very late blooming small variety of blueberry grows well in zone eight. This upright variety produces a very good crop of the firm, assertively flavored blueberries.
Elliott
This very late blooming medium variety of blueberry grows well in zone eight. This upright reddish wood variety produces firm, mildly flavored, good dessert quality aromatic blueberries.
