This post highlights the three main types of blueberries grown in North Carolina (Rabbiteye, Northern Highbush and Southern Highbush), and popular cultivars for each.
- RABBITEYE (Vaccinium virgatum, aka V. ashei)
- Best for: Most of NC, below 2,500 ft. elevation (Piedmont to coast)
- Strengths: Easiest for most homeowners; tolerates a wider range of soil pH and some drought; harvest can be spread over a longer season
- Pollination: Plant more than one cultivar for cross-pollination; cultivars with similar harvest times make for better pollinating buddies
| CULTIVAR NAME | HARVEST TIME | COMMENTS |
| Alapaha | early season | vigorous, dark blue fruit (2001) |
| Vernon | early season | good flavor, medium-large fruit (2004) |
| Titan | early season | very large fruit (2010) |
| Kremer | early season | very large fruit (2015) |
| Ochlockonee | mid-late season | vigorous, excellent flavor (2002) |
| Columbus | late season | large, sweet fruit (2005) |
| Pink Lemonade | late season | pink fruit, disease resistant (2005) |
While the ol’ Rabbiteye standbys (Tifblue, Powderblue, Climax, and Premier) are still around, the above cultivars have many exciting traits and improvements.
2. NORTHERN HIGHBUSH (Vaccinium corymbosum)
- Best for: NC mountains above 2500 ft
- Strengths: Sweet flavor, requires longer chilling hours (perfect for the mountains)
- Pollination: Many are self-fertile, but cross-pollination boosts fruit production
| CULTIVAR NAME | COMMENTS |
| Patriot | dark blue, excellent flavor, adaptable |
| Blueray | productive, excellent flavor |
| Blue Gold | excellent flavor |
| Northland | dark blue, productive |
| Reka | adaptable, productive |
| Draper | productive |
These plants need evenly moist soil, but with good drainage.
3. SOUTHERN HIGHBUSH (Vaccinium corymbusom sub. sp.)
- Best for: Coastal plain, sandy soils
- Strengths: Take heat and humidity, favored by coastal commercial growers, low chilling hours (better suited for warmer zones)
- Pollination: self-pollinating
| CULTIVAR NAME | COMMENTS |
| O’Neal | excellent flavor |
| Legacy | adaptable, productive |
| New Hanover | large, sweet fruit |
Like their Northern cousins, they must have evenly moist soil, but good drainage. Commercial growers utilize irrigation and high berms.
Final Thoughts:
- All blueberries require acidic, well-drained soil (not heavy clay) with plenty of organic matter.
If you want more information on blueberries, let me know. Thanks for reading!
