Nursery / Shrub
Vaccinium corymbosum

Blueberry Bush

Highbush blueberry selected for regional performance - one of the most consistently popular fruiting shrubs we grow, given acidic soil and the right companion variety.

Blueberry Bush

Blueberry has one real requirement that determines success or failure more than anything else: acidic soil, ideally a pH between 4.5 and 5.5. Most Virginia soils run closer to neutral, so amending the planting site is usually necessary, not optional, for this specific plant.

Get that right, along with planting two different varieties for cross-pollination, and blueberry rewards you with reliable, heavy midsummer harvests and genuinely attractive fall foliage color as a bonus, one of the few fruiting shrubs that also earns its place as an ornamental.

Common questions

Before you plant.

  • Do I really need to amend my soil?In most cases, yes. Blueberry needs a pH of 4.5-5.5, and most local soil runs more neutral. Getting this right matters more than almost anything else for this plant.
  • Do I need two plants?For the best fruit set, yes - plant two different varieties for cross-pollination, though a single plant will still produce some fruit.
  • How much water does it need?More consistency than most of our other fruiting shrubs. The shallow root system does not handle drying out well.
  • Does it have any ornamental value beyond fruit?Yes - the fall foliage color is genuinely attractive, one of the few fruiting shrubs that doubles as a strong ornamental.
  • How long until a full crop?Some fruit often comes in the second or third year; full production takes about five to six years.
  • Can I grow blueberries in a container?Yes. A large pot filled with an acidic potting mix lets you control the pH entirely, which is often easier than amending heavy soil.

    • Planting & Growing Information

    Ships as
    1-gallon, 3-gallon container
    Hardiness zone
    3-9, variety dependent
    Mature height
    4-6 ft, highbush varieties
    Water needs
    Moderate to high, consistent moisture, never let it dry out
    Sun / shade
    Full sun for best fruit production
    Bloom season
    Early to mid spring, small bell-shaped white flowers
    Care
    Requires acidic soil (pH 4.5-5.5), mulch with pine bark or needles
    Attributes
    Requires a second variety for best pollination, attractive fall foliage color
    Ships to
    Most US states. We do not currently ship live plants to California, Arizona, Hawaii, or Florida due to state agricultural restrictions. Local pickup is available in Great Falls, Virginia.
    Plants that pair well

    Good company
    for your blueberry bush.

    Gooseberry Bush
    Gooseberry Bush
    A similarly compact fruiting shrub for a mixed berry planting.
    Currant Bush
    Currant Bush
    Shares a comparable scale and shrub-bed placement.
    Yarrow
    Yarrow
    A low, drought-tolerant companion for the sunny edge of a blueberry bed.
    Highbush blueberry

    A fruiting shrub that
    earns its place twice.

    Highbush blueberry is native to the Eastern United States, and it is one of the few fruiting shrubs handsome enough for a front border: white bell flowers in spring, summer fruit, and scarlet fall color.

    Success comes down to one thing, acidic soil. Get the pH right before planting and blueberry is reliable and long-lived. Skip it and the plant will sulk no matter what else you do.

    We sell varieties that ripen at different times, so a small planting can give fruit over several weeks instead of one short burst.

    • Early, mid and late varietiesChoose a spread of ripening times to stretch the harvest across early to late summer.
    • Pollination pairsTwo varieties that bloom together, for a heavier and larger crop.
    • Container plantsEstablished roots in 1- or 3-gallon pots, ready for a prepared bed.
    • Current stockInventory varies by season and batch. Contact us to confirm what is available now, and in what size.

    What to know before you buy

    Test your soil first. Blueberry wants a pH of 4.5 to 5.5, and most Virginia soils need elemental sulfur worked in, ideally a season ahead of planting.

    Plant in a raised or amended bed rich in organic matter, and mulch 2 to 4 inches deep with pine bark or pine needles.

    The roots are shallow and fine. Water through dry spells, and avoid cultivating close to the plant.

    Birds love blueberries as much as you will. Netting in the weeks before harvest is the usual answer.

    Sizes and formats

    What we ship.

    Plants ship in the dormant seasons, late fall and early spring, with local pickup in Great Falls. Availability changes by batch, so ask if you need a particular size.

    Blueberry Bush
    Blueberry Bush
    Vaccinium corymbosum
    Northern highbush blueberry, native to the East, selected for regional performance. Sold as compatible pairs.
    NativeFood bearingPollinatorShrub
    Available as: 1-gallon, 3-gallon container
    Wholesale and bulk

    Planting at scale.

    We supply landscapers, nurseries, farms and larger residential projects with blueberry bush in quantity. Stock is seasonal and limited, so get in touch ahead of your planting window and we will plan around your order.

    Ask about wholesale →
    You might also like
    Gooseberry Bush
    Gooseberry Bush
    Currant Bush
    Currant Bush
    Goji Berry Bush
    Goji Berry Bush
    Full Nursery Catalog
    Full Nursery Catalog

    Planning an orchard, guild or garden around this plant? An on-site consult in the DC area starts at $250, a written Remote Strategy at $1,500, or start small with a free guide.