Highbush Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum)

How much light does a Highbush Blueberry need?

Give this blueberry shrub full sun when grown outdoors, meaning at least six hours of direct sunlight each day. Part shade also works for it, though full sun is the better choice overall. Full sun exposure is described as the ideal outdoor condition for growing blueberries.

• Light: Full sun and part shade (full sun preferred)^1,2,3,2

How often to water a Highbush Blueberry

Water this shrub so the soil stays in the medium to wet range. Water it both frequently and deeply, enough to keep the soil moist, but not saturated. That medium to wet range means avoiding soil that stays dry as well as soil that turns waterlogged.

• Water: Medium to wet⁴

Best soil for a Highbush Blueberry

Acidic, well-drained soil that is loose and high in organic matter is what this shrub needs. Keep the soil pH between 4.0 and 5.5. That same acidic soil is also described as loose and well-drained, with plenty of organic matter worked into it. A pH in that 4.0 to 5.5 band is what this shrub requires. Loose, well-drained soil with organic matter mixed in meets the drainage needs of this shrub.

• Soil drainage: Well drained^5,3,2
• Soil pH: pH 4–5.5^6,3

Hardiness and temperature

USDA zones 3a through 8b together cover the full outdoor range where this shrub is rated as winter hardy outdoors. That full zone listing runs from 3a, 3b, 4a, and 4b, continuing through 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, and finally 8b. That is twelve zone ratings in total.

• Hardiness: Zones 3a–8b¹

Fertilizing a Highbush Blueberry

Feed an established plant once a year with a light application of an acid-producing fertilizer, such as ammonium sulfate. Apply it in March. An annual, light feeding like this is described as what benefits an already established plant. That single yearly application is timed for March.

• Fertilizer: Light, once a year (Mar)⁷

Pruning a Highbush Blueberry

A hard renewal method is the pruning type recorded for this shrub. Do this toward the end of the dormant season, usually sometime in March. That timing, at the close of dormancy, is when this hard pruning is best done. March marks that point in most years for this shrub.

• Pruning: Hard renewal pruning (Mar)⁸

How to plant a Highbush Blueberry

Within USDA zones 3a through 8b, you can plant this shrub outdoors. At full maturity, expect it to reach 6-12 ft (1.83-3.66 m) in height. Give it room to spread 6-10 ft (1.83-3.05 m) wide as it matures. This plant is classified as a shrub.

• Hardiness: Zones 3a–8b¹

Winter care

In winter, this shrub survives outdoors within USDA zones 3a through 8b. Its hardiness rating covers 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, and 8b. It is deciduous. The zone range for this shrub is written as 3a–8b. That is its full hardiness listing.

• Hardiness: Zones 3a–8b¹

How to propagate a Highbush Blueberry

You can propagate this shrub from stem cuttings. Hardwood cuttings are one way it is propagated. It is also described as most commonly propagated by softwood cuttings taken in spring. Both hardwood and softwood stem cuttings are named as methods for this shrub. Spring is the time given for taking the softwood type.

• Propagation: Stem cuttings^9,10

Common problems

Pests recorded for this shrub include spotted wing drosophila, citrus thrips, katydids, and blueberry maggot. Spotted wing drosophila attacks healthy fruit before harvest, and citrus thrips mainly affect blueberries in the San Joaquin Valley. Diseases recorded for it include exobasidium leaf spot, phomopsis twig blight, godronia canker, blueberry scorch virus, and blueberry rust. Also recorded are root rot, mummy berry, botrytis fruit rot, anthracnose, and stem blight.

• Common pests: spotted wing drosophila, citrus thrips, katydids and blueberry maggot^11,12,13,14
• Common diseases: exobasidium leaf spot, phomopsis twig blight, godronia canker, blueberry scorch virus, blueberry rust, root rot, mummy berry, botrytis fruit rot, anthracnose and stem blight^{15,1,5,2,1,2,5}

Questions and answers

What light does this blueberry shrub need outdoors?

Give it full sun outdoors, meaning at least six hours of direct sun a day. It also tolerates part shade, though full sun is the better choice for it.

How often should you water this shrub?

Water it enough to keep the soil in the medium to wet range. Keep it moist, but stop before the soil turns saturated.

What pests and diseases affect this shrub?

Recorded pests include spotted wing drosophila, citrus thrips, katydids, and blueberry maggot. Recorded diseases include exobasidium leaf spot, phomopsis twig blight, godronia canker, blueberry scorch virus, and blueberry rust. Root rot, mummy berry, botrytis fruit rot, anthracnose, and stem blight are also recorded.