Blueberry Plants for the Northwest

Basics

• Highbush blueberry plants are deciduous shrubs that grow best in full sun and well-drained acidic soil. Some can grow 5 to 9 feet tall and live up to 50 years. Plant more than one variety for cross pollination, which results in bigger berries. Blueberries usually start bearing fruit when they're 4 to 5 years old. Young plants can produce 4 to 5 lb. of berries, while older specimens might produce 20 to 25 lb., according to Washington State University.

Early Varieties

• Start the blueberry season early in climate zones 5 to 7 by planting "Earliblue," whose large berries can begin ripening in late June. "Spartan," adapted to zones 4 to 7, bears heavy crops of large berries that begin ripening about July 1. Its foliage turns red in fall. "Patriot" and "Polaris" are cold-hardy varieties suitable for zones 3 to 7. "Patriot" produces large crops of big berries on a low, spreading shrub that has bright-orange fall foliage. "Polaris" bears fragrant, light-blue berries on a bush reaching 4 feet tall and wide; its fall foliage is red.

Mid-Season Cultivars

• Plant "Bluecrop," and you'll be able to pick blueberries for a month, starting in mid-July. "Bluecrop" thrives in zones 4 to 8, producing large, light-blue berries before its foliage turns red in fall. "Chandler" has the largest berries and longest season of any blueberry, according to Raintree Nursery. Hardy in zones 6 to 9, it bears fruit for more than a month on a bush that can grow 5 to 7 feet tall. "Chippewa," appropriate for zones 3 to 8, produces large, light-blue berries on a compact plant about 3 to 4 feet tall and wide. Its foliage turns scarlet in the fall.

Late-Season Varieties

• Harvest blueberries all through August by planting "Darrow," which produces tart fruit the size of quarters, according to Raintree Nursery. The upright bush is hardy in zones 5 to 8. Plant "Aurora" and "Jersey" to extend blueberry season into fall. "Aurora" produces flavorful berries on a big shrub -- up to 6 feet tall -- that grows well in zones 4 to 8. "Jersey" offers traditional blueberry taste, with berries ripening from mid-August until frost. It's suitable for zones 4 to 7. Both plants offer colorful fall foliage: "Aurora" is deep red, while "Jersey" has vivid yellow leaves.

Cold-Hardy Cultivars

• Choose cold-hardy blueberry varieties if you live in eastern Oregon and Washington, or Idaho. Varieties recommended by the Northwest Berry and Grape Information Network incude "Earliblue," "Bluecrop," "Jersey," "Lateblue," "Patriot," "Northblue" and "Toro." Plant only the hardiest varieties in Oregon's Grant and Umatilla counties and the southeastern and east-central regions of Idaho.