What Kind of Blueberry Plants to Plant Together for Pollination?

Planting the Right Bushes

• First, choose blueberries suited for your region. The high-bush blueberry is a tall shrub for temperate climates. This bush requires a winter chill but will not handle severe winter weather. The low-bush blueberry is much more cold-tolerant. This one spreads by underground runners, eventually forming a mat.

  The half-high blueberry is a cross between the two bushes. The result is a tougher shrub without the spreading tendencies. The rabbit-eye is a wild Southern blueberry species. Crossed with the high-bush blueberry it becomes a suitable bush for warmer regions. These are called Southern high-bush blueberries.

Pollination

• You must plant two different varieties of the same type of blueberry for good pollination. Each group has early, mid-season and late varieties. Both blueberry plants must flower at the same time. A small number of blueberries are self-pollinating. One popular variety is Vaccinium Sunshine Blue. This is a 3-foot-tall, ever-bearing bush that can be planted alone. It is a great choice for containers and can be grown on a sunny deck or patio. Even if a listing should claim a bush is self-pollinating it will still do better planted near other varieties. You can place the different blueberry plants throughout your landscape. Blueberries do not need to be planted side by side to benefit from one another. The more varieties you plant, the better your chances are of getting it right.

Insects

• Without beneficial insects, cross-pollination cannot occur. You must have honeybees or bumblebees in your planting area. If there are few bees use other plants to draw pollinators to your garden. Herbs are very good bee plants. Install a variety of early flowering perennials and shrubs near your blueberries to attract beneficial pollinators. Hummingbirds also frequent blueberries and can transport pollen. Hang nectar feeders nearby to attract them.

Other Possibilities

• If you have chosen the right plants and pollinators and still have no fruit, other factors might be the culprit. Blueberries need good sun exposure and regular water during the growing season. It is critical for blueberries to have acidic soil pH. Sulfur can be added to the soil to obtain a pH of around 5.0. Mulches comprised of leaves and conifer needles will also help develop acidic soil. Blueberries can develop fruit at a young age but it takes a few years to produce a heavy crop.