Southern highbush blueberry
Vaccinium corymbosum hybrids
Low-chill blueberries that ripen in spring.
Hardiness: zones 7 to 10
Light: full sun
Size: about 6 ft tall, 5 ft wide
Harvest: April to June
From: Florida breeding
Here: Hardy in the Lake Erie shore climate (zone 6b to 7a), so it can live outdoors in the ground.
Good for: food, pollinators.
Hardy in zones 7 to 10.
The story
Southern highbush blueberries were bred in Florida from the 1950s by crossing northern highbush with wild southern species, giving an early, big-berried bush that fruits after a mild winter. They are the blueberries of Florida, Georgia and California.
Planting
Full sun, acid soil with lots of organic matter, and good drainage; a raised bed of pine bark works where soil is heavy. Plant two varieties.
Growing
Keep moist and mulched, feed lightly with acid fertilizer, and prune lightly after harvest. In warm winters they may bloom early; protect from late frost.
Harvest and use
Very early, often April and May; pick when fully blue and the berries release at a touch.
What to watch for
Birds, late frost on early bloom, and alkaline water, which slowly raises the soil pH.
See if Southern highbush blueberry fits your yard
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More berries and small fruit
General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home