Blueberry Bush Varieties
The following blueberry bushes grow to different heights and widths. They’re cultivated for growing in varying climate conditions, such as cool or warm climates, and the length of blueberry season:
- Highbush (Vaccinium corymbosum) – These deciduous blueberry shrubs have upright branches. They produce long, bell-shaped, light pink flowers. Their dark green leaves are about 1-inch long and one-half inch wide. In the fall, the leaves turn red, orange, yellow and purple. Highbush blueberry bushes grow in USDA Hardiness zone 3 and grow from 6 feet to 12 feet tall.
- Lowbush (Vaccinium angustifolium) – Lowbush blueberries thrive in USDA Hardiness zone 2. Their glossy, dark green leaves are about one-half inch to three-quarters of an inch long. The blueberry flowers are bell-shaped and white. In the fall, the foliage turns bronze. Lowbush blueberry bushes grow from 6 inches to 2 feet high.
- Half-high – Cultivated as a cross between highbush and lowbush blueberries, these shrubs grow USDA Hardiness zones 4 and 5. They feature white, bell-shaped flowers and medium-sized berries. The leaves are deep orange in the fall. They grow from 2 feet to 4 feet tall.
- Rabbiteye (Vaccinium ashei) – Native to the Southeastern United States, these blueberries grow into large shrubs reaching 10 feet wide and 15 feet tall, if grown in USDA Hardiness zones 8a to 9a. The leaves of Rabbiteye blueberries are green on the top with a blue tinge underneath. They produce pink, bell-shaped flowers and powdery blue fruit.
If you’re thinking about growing blueberry bushes in your home garden, just be sure to choose the cultivars for your climate. Choose Highbush and Half-High bushes for Northern and Midwestern areas, Lowbush for Northeastern and Upper Midwest, and Rabbiteye for the Southern states.
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