Most people love snacking on blueberries, but surprisingly few people actually try growing them at home. That’s a real shame because there are so many fantastic varieties that thrive right in your own backyard!
Wild vs. Cultivated: What’s the Difference?
Before we dive into specific varieties, it’s important to know that blueberries generally fall into two camps: wild blueberries and cultivated (or “highbush”) blueberries. They aren’t actually the same thing! Wild blueberries are the ones you find trekking through the woods or moors. They stay pretty low to the ground—usually topping out at about 15 inches—and produce tiny, flavor-packed berries that are blue all the way through. However, they can be a bit finicky to grow in a typical garden setting.
Cultivated blueberries, on the other hand, are native to North America and were specifically bred for home gardens and farms. These grow as upright shrubs and can reach heights of up to 10 feet! The berries are much larger, juicier, and sweeter than their wild cousins. One fun fact: while the skin is blue, the flesh inside is actually white.
Standout Blueberry Varieties
If you’re looking for a crowd-pleaser, “Bluesbrothers” is a top pick. It’s famous for being incredibly high-yielding and producing super juicy fruit. Because it grows in a compact, bushy shape, it’s also a perfect candidate for growing in containers.
If you’re short on space, “Little Blue Wonder” is another great choice for pots. It only grows to about 2 feet tall, making it similar in size to a wild blueberry. The fruit even mimics the wild ones—small, deep blue, and packed with intense flavor.
For something truly eye-catching, you have to check out “Pink Lemonade.” As the name suggests, these berries aren’t the standard blue; they start off light pink and ripen into a deep, vibrant pink. They look stunning in the garden and, thanks to their compact growth, they do great in containers too.
More Great Varieties to Consider
When you’re picking out a fruit bush, yield is usually the name of the game. If you want a heavy harvest, besides “Bluesbrothers,” you should look into:
- Duke
- Northland
- Patriot
- Bluejay
If you have plenty of room in your garden beds for larger shrubs, these varieties are excellent choices:
- Sunshine Blue
- Duke
- Blue Berry
