Different Blueberry Bushes

Northern Highbush

• Northern highbush are the most commonly grown type of blueberry worldwide and is the preferred variety for commercial production. They grow 5 to 9 feet tall, and prolifically produce large berries. However, they have the highest chilling requirement (around 800 hours) and do best with a cold winter, making them difficult to grow in the southern or southwestern United States. Commonly grown cultivars include Duke, Blueray and Liberty.

Southern Highbush

• Southern highbush have been developed by crossing Northern highbush with wild Southern blueberries species. They have a significantly lower chilling requirement (200 to 300 hours), but are unsuitable for Northern gardens because once they have met their chilling requirement, they will begin to bloom. Southern highbush blooms are frequently damaged in areas with long, cold winters. They also produce large fruits, like their Northern relatives. Common cultivars are Legacy and Ozarkblue.

Rabbit Eye

• Rabbit eye blueberries are natives to the southeastern United States and grow 6 to 10 feet tall. They have been less heavily cultivated and thus retain many of their wild qualities. The skin of the fruit of these bushes is thicker and the fruit itself is somewhat gritty like a pear. Rabbit eyes produce well in places with long, hot summers. They often are not able to finish ripening their fruit when grown in a Northern environment. Available cultivars include Rahi, Ochlockonee and Powder Blue.

Lowbush

• The lowbush blueberry is often called a wild blueberry, though they are under cultivation. They are natives of the north and northeastern U.S. and are very short, growing only about 1 1/2 feet tall. Frequently reproduced by cloning, few named cultivars are available. Blomidon, Burgundy and Brunswick are often seen in nursery catalogs, however.

Half-High

• Half-high blueberries are extremely cold tolerant plants that are the result of breeding Northern highbush and lowbush varieties. They grow only 3 to 4 feet tall, but can tolerate cold as low as minus 45 degrees Fahrenheit. Half-highs are becoming popular landscape plants because they do not need drastic pruning. They are also excellent choices for containerizing. Available cultivars include Northcountry, Polaris and Chippewa.