shrub

Highbush Blueberry

Vaccinium corymbosum

Updated 9 Jun 2026 · AI-parsed entry

Highbush Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) — a shrub, for Full sun, High water.

What it needs & gives back

↓ Needs

Sunlightfull sun to part shade
Waterconsistent moisture

↑ Gives back

Fruitedible berries
Biomassmedium

Through the year

Emergence

Bud break and leaf emergence occur after sufficient chill hours are met and the danger of hard spring frosts has passed.

Flowering

Flowering typically begins about a month after leaf emergence, lasting for several weeks.

Fruiting

Fruit development follows flowering, with berries ripening over an extended period in summer.

Harvest

Harvest season typically runs through July and August, depending on cultivar and climate.

Senescence

Leaves begin to change color and drop in autumn, triggered by shorter days and the first frosts.

Dormancy

Plants enter a dormant state after leaf drop, requiring a period of cold temperatures to prepare for the next growing season.

Timing is relative to your local season (temperate Northern Hemisphere).

Soil interactions

Drainagewell-drained
Nitrogen fixingNo
MycorrhizalYes
Accumulatesiron, magnesium
Soil texturesandy loam, loam
Organic matterMedium
Compaction toleranceLow

Propagation

Methodsseeds, cuttings, tissue_culture
Difficulty3 / 5
Establishes in~2 yr
Stratificationcold stratification for 60-90 days
Divisionlate_winter_early_spring

Wildlife & pests

Attractsbees, birds
Can host pestsblueberry maggot, spotted wing drosophila
Can host diseasesmummy berry, phytophthora root rot