An overview of the most popular blueberry varieties

Blueberries are an excellent choice for planting in your garden. They offer health benefits, require minimal care, and, when grown correctly, produce high yields. There are many blueberry varieties available. It's worth familiarizing yourself with them to choose the most suitable one.

Bluecrop

A winter-hardy variety that tolerates drought well and is resistant to numerous diseases. This mid-season blueberry is prone to overproduction.

Characteristics and features of the variety:

• Reaches 1.6-2 m in height.
• It has straight shoots.
• The berries ripen in late July to early August. The fruits have a long shelf life and are easy to transport.
• The blue berries ripen gradually and have a tart-sweet flavor. The average blueberry weight is 1.8 g.
• On average, about 6-9 kg of fruit are collected from one bush.

Patriot

Blueberries are famous for their early fruiting – they begin to produce their first harvests as early as 4-5 years of development.

Other characteristics of the variety:

• It is distinguished by its extended fruiting period, lasting until September.
• The plant grows up to 1.2-1.8 m in height.
• The crown is spreading and dense. Regular pruning is required.
• The berries are light blue, waxy, slightly flattened, and gathered in firm clusters. The flesh is juicy, aromatic, and has a dessert-like flavor. Each berry averages up to 2 grams.
• The plant produces 4-8 kg of ripe fruits.

Spartan

Blueberries grow slowly in the first few years and produce few shoots. When fully ripe, the berries tend to fall off, but they store well and are suitable for long-distance transport.

Characteristics of the variety:

• An adult bush reaches 1.5-2 m in height.
• The plant has a spectacular spreading crown.
• Blueberries begin to bear fruit as early as 3 years after planting.
• The berries are covered with light blue skin and weigh on average up to 2 g. The fruits have aromatic pulp and a sweet and sour taste.
• Up to 6 kg of fruit can be harvested from one bush.

Chandler

This variety is renowned for its excellent and long-lasting storage. The berries are recommended for fresh consumption and processing.

Specifications:

• The bush grows tall – up to 1.5-1.8 m. The shoots are erect and powerful.
• The tree bears its first fruits already in the 4th year of development.
• The berries are blue in color. The flesh is juicy, aromatic, and sweet and sour.
• An adult plant produces about 6 kg of fruit.

Elizabeth

A late-ripening variety that begins bearing fruit in mid-August. The fruit is best eaten fresh.

Specifications:

• The bush reaches 1.6-1.8 m in height.
• The crown is slightly spreading, with medium density.
• The plant is covered with large green leaves.
• It begins to bear fruit in the 3rd year of development.
• The fruits are light blue, with sweet and aromatic flesh. Each berry weighs on average up to 2 g.
• One adult plant produces 4-7 kg of fruit.

Duke

Once harvested, the fruits are stored for a long time and withstand transportation well.

Characteristics of blueberries:

• The bush is erect, vigorous, reaching 1.3-1.8 m in height.
• The plant begins to bear fruit 3 years after planting.
• The light blue fruits are covered with a light wax, have a firm texture, and are pleasantly flavorful, richly sweet, with a hint of tartness. Each berry averages 2.5 g.
• One adult bush produces 6-8 kg of ripe fruits.

Northland

The variety is characterized by good transportability and long storage.

Other characteristics of blueberries:

• An early-ripening variety, reaching 1-1.2 m in height. It has a spreading crown with vigorous shoots.
• The plant begins to produce its first fruits in just 3-4 years. The flowers are frost-resistant. The berries ripen in mid-July.
• Blueberries with a deep blue hue and firm, sweet flesh. Each fruit weighs 2 grams.
• On average, 4.5-8 kg of ripe blueberries are collected from a bush.

River

When growing this variety, keep in mind that it requires regular pruning to achieve high yields.

Characteristics of blueberries:

• The bush reaches 1.7-2 m in height.
• The plant is covered with large emerald leaves.
• Fruiting occurs 3-4 years after planting.
• The fruits are covered with blue skin with a waxy coating. The berries are gathered in clusters, do not fall off when ripe, and are characterized by a pleasant taste and aroma. Each berry weighs approximately 1.5-1.8 g.
• Gardeners get up to 4-5 kg ​​of ripe fruits from the plant.

Northblue

Northblue blueberries are ideal for container growing and offer excellent shelf life and transportability.

Other characteristics:

• The bush is low-growing, reaching 0.6-0.9 m in height.
• It has a dense crown and strong stems.
• It begins to bear fruit in the 4th year after planting.
• The fruits are dense and dark blue in color. They are gathered in small clusters and have a vibrant blueberry flavor. Each berry weighs 2.2-2.6 g.
• An adult plant produces 1.5-2.5 kg of fruit.

North Country

The bush is compact, has decorative qualities, and is characterized by an increased level of frost resistance – it can withstand temperatures down to -40 degrees.

Distinguishing characteristics:

• The plant grows no more than 0.9 m in height.
• The bush has strong shoots and a moderately spreading crown.
• Blueberries begin to produce a harvest in the 3rd year of development.
• The berries are light blue in color, medium in density, and do not exceed 1.2 g in size. The fruits are tasty and aromatic.
• On average, 1.6-2 kg of ripe berries are collected from one adult plant.

Blu-ray

An ornamental shrub covered in red foliage in autumn. The berries keep for a long time and are highly transportable.

Characteristics of the variety:

• An adult bush grows up to 1.5-2.1 m in height.
• The crown is wide, the shoots are straight.
• It begins to bear fruit 3-4 years after planting.
• The round, light blue berries have dense, aromatic flesh with a sweet flavor. They are borne in clusters. Each fruit weighs an average of 2.2 g.
• One adult plant produces up to 5-8 kg of ripe berries.

Chanticleer

A plant characterized by beautiful blooms that begin immediately after the spring frosts. The bush produces white bell-shaped flowers. The fruits ripen as early as early July.

Specifications:

• The bush grows no more than 1.5 m in height.
• The crown is moderately spreading, not very dense.
• Already in the 3rd year of development the plant begins to bear fruit.
• The berries are round, with firm flesh and light blue skin. They have a waxy coating. Each fruit weighs 3-5 g.
• On average, one adult plant produces up to 5-6 kg of fruit.

Toast

The Zazdravnaya blueberry is renowned for its high yields. The plant grows compactly and doesn't take up much space in the garden.

Specifications:

• The bush reaches 40-50 cm in height.
• Can be grown from seeds.
• The fruits are small, black with a bloom. They are sweet, juicy, and aromatic. They weigh no more than 0.5 g.
• The plant begins to bear fruit 3-4 years after planting.
• One adult plant produces up to 5 kg of ripe fruits.

Forest Pearl

This variety was developed by Russian breeders. It's excellent for growing in pots and outdoors.

Features of the variety:

• The bush reaches 40 cm in height.
• This is an early maturing variety – flowering begins already in April.
• The plant begins to bear fruit in the 4th year of development.
• The berries are dark blue, tasty, and aromatic. They grow small, weighing no more than 1 g.
• One adult plant produces about 1.5-2 kg of berries.

Top Hut

A successful hybrid created from highbush blueberries and lowbush bilberries. The berries are characterized by their exceptional sweetness.

Characteristics of the variety:

• The bush grows up to 40 cm in height.
• It has a spherical crown.
• Flowering occurs in spring. The flowers are creamy white and require no pollination.
• The plant is covered with green bronze foliage that does not lose its color until late autumn.
• Small shoots allow the berry to be grown in small containers.
• Blueberries have a well-developed root system with abundant lateral branches.
• In late summer, the plant produces small, ripe berries. A single bush can yield up to 1.5 kg. Each fruit weighs up to 4 g.

Herbert

Herbert is considered one of the best blueberry varieties. It's renowned for its aromatic, vibrantly flavored fruits. The blueberries hold well on the branches and don't fall off when fully ripe.

Specifications:

• The bush grows up to 2 m in height.
• The shoots are erect.
• Fruiting begins in the 3rd-4th year of development.
• The fruits are round, blue, and have a sweet and sour taste. They ripen in July.
• On average, one adult plant produces about 6-7 kg of fruit.

Jelly Bean

Blueberries are compact in size and can be grown both in containers and in the open ground.

Characteristics of the variety:

• The plant grows no more than 60 cm in height, but can reach the same size in width.
• The bush has a rounded configuration, so it will decorate your garden.
• Blueberries begin to bear fruit in the 4th year after planting.
• The fruits are sweet, without sourness, but with a slight tartness.
• One adult plant produces about 2-2.5 kg of ripe berries.

Bonus

Blueberry Bonus is a tall northern variety that ripens in late July.

Characteristic features:

• The plant grows up to 1.5 m in height.
• The shoots are erect and powerful.
• Blueberries produce their first harvests 3-4 years after planting.
• This is a self-pollinating variety, but it is advisable to plant plants of a different species in the same area.
• The fruits are blue in color. The taste is sweet and sour, and the aroma is rich and pleasant.
• A single mature plant produces a large harvest – up to 7 kg. One kg can contain up to 200 large berries.

Blue Star

An early-ripening variety with high yields. Characterized by disease resistance and good transportability.

Specifications:

• The plant grows up to 1.5 m in height.
• It thrives in sunny areas protected from the wind.
• Fruiting begins 3-4 years after planting.
• The berries are large and light blue in color. They have a slightly tart flavor and an excellent aroma.
• One adult bush produces up to 10 kg of ripe fruit.

Keen eye

The Zorkiy Glaz blueberry has excellent taste.

Specifications:

• The bush grows from 30 to 60 cm in height.
• Fruiting begins 2-3 years after planting.
• Flowering occurs in April.
• The fruits are small, sweet and sour, and form in clusters of 4-6 berries. They weigh an average of 0.5 g.
• One bush yields up to 1.5-2 kg of harvest.

Dark night

The variety is famous for its good taste, so it is perfect for making compotes, jams and preserves.

Peculiarities:

• The bush grows up to 40 cm in height.
• Prefers shady places.
• The plant is covered with smooth leaves with sharp ribbed edges, colored light green.
• Fruiting begins in the 3rd year of development.
• Flowering occurs at the end of May, sometimes in April.
• The fruits are spherical or ovoid, with a bluish bloom. The taste is sweet with a characteristic tartness.
• One adult plant produces up to 2-4 kg of berries.

Forest Healer

A mid-season variety characterized by low yields and excellent berry flavor.

Specifications:

• A perennial shrub growing up to 15-40 cm in height.
• The plant is covered with small light green leaves.
• During the flowering period, single greenish-pink flowers appear on the blueberry.
• It begins to bear fruit in the 3rd-4th year of development.
• The fruits are blackish-blue in color, with a bluish bloom, round and flat. Each berry weighs 0.2-0.5 g. The flesh is sweet and sour, reddish-purple in color.
• The declared yield is 1 kg of blueberries from one bush per season.

Sunshine

This medium-sized shrub is renowned for its abundant harvests of delicious berries. Ripening occurs from July to September.

Specifications:

• The bush grows up to 90 cm in height.
• In 2-3 years the plant begins to bear fruit.
• The fruits are large, with sweet, juicy flesh and a slight tartness. The berries have a rich aroma and are dark blue in color.
• One adult plant produces up to 5-7 kg of blueberries per season.

Nelson

Nelson blueberry is considered a hardy and productive variety of highbush Canadian blueberry.

Specifications:

• The bush is compact, grows up to 1.5 m in height, and has elastic shoots.
• It begins to bear fruit 3-4 years after planting.
• The fruits are firm, large, and blue-skinned. The berries are slightly flattened and have light, oily, thick flesh with a sweet-spicy flavor and citrus aroma.
• One adult bush produces up to 6 kg of fruit.

Differences between garden and wild blueberries

Garden and wild blueberries differ in the appearance and size of the bushes.

Characteristics of forest species:

• The bush reaches a height of 10-50 cm. It is a deciduous plant with a creeping rhizome. It produces numerous shoots. The shrub is covered with light green, elongated oval-shaped leaves.
• Flowering occurs in May-June. The flowers are single, perfectly shaped, and pale green.
• The berries ripen in July-August; the skin is black with a bluish bloom.

Characteristics of garden blueberries:

• The garden blueberry bush reaches 2-2.5 meters in height. It is a long-lived plant, with a lifespan of approximately 50 years.
• The berries are large. One mature plant can yield 7-9 kg.
• Garden blueberries have a powerful root system, and the above-ground part is strong and spreading.
• When picked, the berries turn dark. Wild blueberries don't have this characteristic.

Blueberries are a very popular berry. Many gardeners plant them in their gardens and summer cottages. With a wide variety of varieties, you can find the one that best suits your needs by familiarizing yourself with the different types of blueberries.

Frequently Asked Questions