Blueray Highbush Blueberry

Blueray Highbush Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum 'Blueray')

Blueray Highbush Blueberry is a vigorous, cold-hardy northern highbush prized for heavy midseason crops of very large, sweet berries; dense, multi-stem plants add white spring flowers and red to orange fall color to edible landscapes and large containers.

Distinctive Features

Big, dessert-quality berries with balanced sweetness and mild tang form in loose clusters with a small dry scar; plants are productive and dependable with strong winter hardiness when grown in acidic soil.

Growing Conditions

• Sun Exposure: Full sun for maximum yield and sugar.
• Soil: Moist, well-drained, organic-rich, acidic soil.
• Water: Keep evenly moist, especially from bloom through harvest.
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 7.
• Mature Size: Typically 4 to 6 ft tall and 4 to 6 ft wide.
• Bloom Time: Spring; fruit ripens midseason, often early to mid summer.
• Soil pH: 4.5 to 5.5 for best performance.

Ideal Uses

• Focal Point: White bells in spring and colorful fall foliage frame patios and entries.
• Edible Hedge: Multi-stem habit forms a productive, seasonal screen.
• Wildlife Support: Flowers feed pollinators; fruit attracts songbirds.
• Large Containers: Thrives in acid media with regular feeding and water.

Low Maintenance Care

• Watering: Water deeply when the top 1 in is dry; avoid drought during fruit set and ripening.
• Pruning: In late winter, remove weak wood and oldest canes after year 4 to 5 to renew growth.
• Fertilizing: Feed in early spring with an acid-forming fertilizer; repeat lightly after bloom if needed.
• Mulching: Apply 2 to 4 in of pine bark or needles to conserve moisture and maintain acidity.
• Notes: Self-fertile but heavier crops with a second midseason cultivar; net plants to deter birds and avoid alkaline soils to prevent chlorosis.

Why Choose Blueray Highbush Blueberry?

• Large Berries: Big, flavorful fruit ideal for fresh eating and baking.
• Reliable Producer: Consistent midseason harvests in cool climates.
• Ornamental Value: Spring bloom and vivid fall color enhance gardens.
• Edible Landscaping: Performs as hedge, specimen, or large-container crop.

Plant in full sun with acidic, well-drained soil and steady moisture for abundant, high-quality midseason blueberries.