Jersey Highbush Blueberry

Jersey Highbush Blueberry is a  vigorous upright deciduous shrub with high production of very sweet powdery light blue blueberries that ripen late.  Red stems hold the large elliptical dark  green foliage which turns orange-red in fall. The waxy white flower clusters bloom in spring. Grows best with full sun and rich, moist acidic well-drained soils.  Jersey has good resistance to root rot.  Should be planted with others to cross-pollinate to increase yield. 

Vaccinium corymbosum are highly valuable for wildlife as well, being listed as a host plant for 32 different butterflies and moths, and provides nectar to several specialized bees.  The berries and branches are good food sources for birds and mammals. 

MAINTENANCE NEEDS:  Medium Maintenance. Water regularly and mulch.  Prune as needed in late winter. Chlorosis may occur in high PH soils.  Blight, rot, anthracnose, canker, and mildew are occasional problems. Blueberry maggot, fruit worms, and spotted wing drosophila can damage the fruit.  Mummy berry is a fungal disease that shrivels and dries the fruit- remove affected fruit immediately if spotted.
LANDSCAPE USES:  Accents or Group Plantings, Borders, Naturalized Areas, Woodland Gardens, Rock Gardens, Hedges, Foundation Plantings, Edible Gardens, and Containers.

COMPANION PLANTS: Strawberry, Camellia, Bayberry

IMAGE: Opioła Jerzy (Poland), Vaccinium corymbosum a2, CC BY-SA 3.0