W 895-A

Selecting Blueberries for Residential

Production in Tennessee
Natalie Bumgarner, Associate Professor and UT Residential and Consumer Horticulture Extension Specialist
Brooke Keadle, Student Assistant
David Lockwood, Professor and UT Fruit Extension Specialist
Carol Reese, former UT Western Region Ornamental Horticulture Specialist
Department of Plant Sciences

Blueberries can be an excellent crop for residential areas because they are a long-term and productive small fruit crop with
moderate management requirements. However, proper selection of blueberry type and cultivar will be essential to ensure the
crop is well suited to the climate. Likewise, site selection and preparation are crucial and can even be more important over the
life of the residential blueberry than cultivar selection. A blueberry planting is a long-term investment than can thrive for many
years with proper preparation, selection and care.

Selecting the Best Site

Site selection and preparation are the first crucial steps in successful blueberry growing. Blueberries grow best in soils with
pH levels between 4.5 and 5.5 and will fail when planted in high pH soils. Coarse- to medium-textured soils are preferred, and
good soil drainage is essential for blueberries. Blueberry plants have a fine, thread-like root system that grows densely near
the soil surface and mostly within the dripline of the bush. Blueberry roots are sensitive to low soil oxygen levels, which is
another reason good drainage is important.
If soil on the site is poorly drained, shallow or low in organic matter, raised beds can be used to provide better growing
conditions. Raised beds can be made of native soil, which can be amended with peat, pine bark and other organic materials.
When amending, make sure that amendments support good drainage and do not increase pH (some composts and wood
chips can increase pH). Raised beds can also be filled with an organic growing mix, such as composted pine bark, which will
provide excellent drainage.
Irrigation will be important for the establishment and production of blueberries in soil sites and especially in raised beds with
organic substrates that drain rapidly. Blueberries are not deeply rooted and lack root hairs, so they are not very efficient in
taking up water and require more management of moisture than many other woody plants.

Selecting Blueberries for Tennessee Climates

A wide range of blueberry types and cultivars can be grown in Tennessee. The state’s climate is often referred to as
transitional because it has similarities to both northern and southern sites. It is important to select blueberries for this
transitional climate that have moderate chilling hour requirements, as growing conditions in Tennessee are not identical to
northern or southern blueberry production areas that require exclusively high or low chill cultivars, respectively.
Chilling hours are used to describe the time needed for a perennial plant to reach winter dormancy requirements. When
chilling hours are reached, spring growth can begin. Because chilling requirements can impact spring flowering and potential
for freeze losses, plant requirements need to be matched with climate to prevent fruit losses that could result from bloom that
is too early or too late. In Tennessee, blueberries that fall in the broad range of 500-1,000 chilling hours are suitable for most
regions of the state.

1 Selecting Blueberries for Residential Production in Tennessee

 The three main types of blueberries (see Table 1) commonly grown in Tennessee are northern highbush (Vaccinium
corymbosum), rabbiteye (Vaccinium virgatum syn. V. ashei) and southern highbush (Vaccinium hybrids). Rabbiteye are often
more successfully established and grown in residential spaces in Tennessee climates. Rabbiteye blueberries are often more
versatile as far as heat and drought tolerance and soil conditions, so they are more likely to survive and be productive over the
long-term. Rabbiteyes have a more vigorous growth if left unpruned and can reach up to 20 feet, meaning they are actually
often taller than highbush (a term used in comparison to lowbush blueberries, a species that is not generally recommeded for
Tennessee production.)
While some growers prefer the early harvest of highbush types, more care is required in site selection and soil and plant
management. Northern highbush blueberries natively grow in areas that are moist or bog-like and prefer high organic matter
sites. In Mid-South Tennessee locations, they often perform best in cooler regions and generally require irrigation. They can
be more disease prone and have a shorter lifespan in Mid-South locations versus rabbiteye. Genetics from both the northern
highbush and native blueberry species have been used to breed southern highbush hybrids for areas that require lower
chilling due to shorter and warmer winters. Southern highbush blueberries require much of the same attention to pH and soil
moisture management as northern highbush but are more suitable for warmer locations to produce early summer blueberries.
A fourth minor type of blueberries on the market are Vaccinium hybrids that contain lowbush blueberry (V. angustifolium)
genetics. Many of the dwarf or container blueberries marketed to homeowners owe their compact habit and short stature to
this lowbush influence. Lowbush blueberries do also tend to have smaller fruit size, so some of the dwarf cultivars may retain
this characteristic.

Table 1. Comparison of different attributes of Northern Highbush, Southern Highbush and Rabbiteye blueberries.
Northern Highbush Southern Highbush Rabbiteye
Winter Hardiness More hardy (-20 to -30 F) Less hardy (0 to -10 F) Less hardy (0 to -10 F)
• These hardiness levels are accurate when plants are
healthy and fully dormant.
• During dormancy, fruit buds are less hardy than leaf
buds.
Chilling Requirement Longest (800-1000 hours Mid (600-800 hours) Mid (500-plus hours)
• Southern Highbush and Rabbiteye varieties listed in or more) These chill hours These chill hours are
this publication have chilling requirements appropriate are suggested for suggested for Tennessee
for Tennessee. Varieties that have lower chilling Tennessee conditions. conditions. Many
requirements than 450-550 hours (rabbiteye) or Many have lower chill cultivars have lower
600-800 hours (highbush) are often poorly suited to hours and will likely chill hours and will likely
some locations in Tennessee due to danger of spring perform poorly in many perform poorly in many
frost damage to bloom. regions of Tennessee. regions of Tennessee.
Bloom Time Latest Early to Mid Earliest (so largest
chance of crop loss by
late spring frost/freeze)
Cross Pollination Requirement Recommended Recommended Necessary for many
• All types and varieties of highbush and rabbiteye varieties
blueberries will yield larger crops with bigger berries
with cross pollination. Bees (bumblebees, native bees)
are crucial for pollination.
• Each type of blueberry needs to be cross-pollinated
by a variety or varieties of the same type and same
bloom time.
Management Larger plants, so may
• All types and varieties of blueberries require careful require wider spacing
early pruning to establish a good structure and
ongoing pruning to maintain productive fruiting area.
• Weed control is essential and can be addressed
through natural mulches or woven plastic ground
covers.
Harvest Period Late spring – early Late spring – early Mid- to late summer
• Actual time and duration of harvest will depend on summer beginning in summer beginning in beginning in early to
the type of blueberry, varieties being grown and the early June and lasting for early June and lasting mid-July and continuing
location of the planting. about 4 weeks for about 4 weeks for about 6 to 8 weeks

Fruit Characteristics Tend to have larger fruit Fruit is often smaller and
can contain more seeds

2 Selecting Blueberries for Residential Production in Tennessee

 Blueberry Cultivars for Tennessee
Cultivars included here were selected from those with a history of success in Tennessee and the Mid-South and from newer
cultivars that could perform well in the state. Descriptions include fruit and plant attributes as well as information to assist
residential growers select the most suitable types and cultivars. As trials continue, these suggestions will be updated. Because
newer cultivars can be harder to find, a list of potential suppliers is included at the end of this publication. While certainly not
exhaustive, these suppliers did provide access to all listed cultivars at the time of publication.

Rabbiteye
Due to their wider adaptability in terms of soil and management, rabbiteye blueberries are a good choice for residential
growers in Tennessee. Rabbiteye cultivars listed here should have sufficient chilling requirements for all regions of Tennessee,
with the exception of higher elevation areas of East Tennessee where northern highbush may perform better. Many cultivars
with lower chilling requirements were not included here due to the risk of freeze damage and crop loss in many areas of the
state. However, this does not eliminate the risk of flower and fruit loss due to spring frost/freeze events. Keep in mind that
early season rabbiteye will be later than early season highbush as harvest seasons are not exactly comparable. Most rabbiteye
varieties have resistance to anthracnose fruit rot and Phomopsis twig blight.

Name Cultivar Description Chill Harvest Pollinator

hours season suggestions
Cultivars demonstrated to perform well in Tennessee
Premier Berries are large in size with good color and flavor, a dry stem scar and medium yield. 550 Early Brightwell,
Upright, vigorous plants. Tolerant to higher soil pH levels. This an older cultivar that Columbus
has been proven to be productive with good fruit quality. It is more susceptible to
early spring damage due to early bloom time.
Brightwell Upright, vigorous plant that has a wide ripening window. It has large fruit with good Estimated Mid Premier,
flavor and quality and is productive. This cultivar has a lower chilling hour requirement 400 Tifblue
than other cultivars on this list, but blooms with higher chill hour cultivars.
Tifblue Vigorous, upright plants having small- to medium-sized berries with average color 650 Mid-Late Brightwell,
and good firmness and flavor. Can have some fruit cracking during wet weather. This Premier
is an older cultivar released by University of Georgia in 1955 that has been shown to
be durable and long-lived in many Tennessee regions. It is widely grown in Tennessee
gardens and widely available.
Powderblue Berries are medium-sized, very light blue in color, have a small stem scar, average 600 Late Ocklockonee,
firmness and flavor. Less susceptible to fruit cracking during wet weather than similar Tifblue
cultivars but can overcrop. Upright and spreading plants often grown with Tifblue
cultivar for cross pollination. This cultivar was released by NC State University in 1978.
Newer cultivars of interest that have not been extensively trialed to date
Titan Plants are upright with narrow crowns. The berry size is larger than other rabbiteyes 500-550 Early Premier,
and the yield is high. Fruit color and taste are good and ripening is similar to Premier. Columbus
Wet conditions may lead to fruit cracking. This cultivar was released by the University
of Georgia in 2010. The large fruit size will likely be of interest to gardeners who prefer
the larger fruit more typical of highbush types. Trials are underway in Tennessee to
evaluate Titan.
Vernon Vigorous plant that has good yields. Large berries with favorable fruit attributes, such 550 Early Brightwell,
as dry fruit scars and good firmness. Flowering is reported to be later than Premier, Premier,
but with similar harvest time, which can be a protection for gardeners against spring and Titan
frost damage. This cultivar was released in 2004 by the University of Georgia.
Columbus Berries have good fruit color, are somewhat soft and seem to have fewer issues with 600 Early to Vernon,
rain splitting the berries. Due to large fruit size, it needs to be picked by hand and is mid Premier,
reported to have good shelf life. NC State University cultivar. Brightwell,
and Titan

Yadkin Berries are medium sized, dark blue, with average picking scar and firmness. They 500-600 Mid Tifblue
have good flavor and aroma. Fruit mostly grows on the tips of the stems, so it can
be quick and easy to pick. Small bush size (smaller than Tifblue). This cultivar was
released from NC State University in 1997.
Ochlockonee Late season berries have good color, firmness and flavor. Vigorous and upright plants 700 Mid-Late Powderblue
with higher yields and larger fruit reported than Tifblue, which blooms and bears
within a week or so of Ochlockonee. Released in 2002 by University of Georgia. Late
blooming may be an asset in protecting from spring frosts. Trials are underway in
Tennessee to evaluate Ochlockonee.

3 Selecting Blueberries for Residential Production in Tennessee

 Northern Highbush
Northern highbush blueberries are more challenging than rabbiteyes to grow. Cultivars listed here have sufficient chilling
requirements for all regions of Tennessee. However, they are most commonly grown in cooler or higher elevation eastern
Tennessee regions and/or those with higher levels of organic matter in the soil. Keep in mind that early season highbush will
be earlier than early season rabbiteyes, and harvest seasons are not comparable between types.

Name Cultivar Description Chill hours Harvest season Pollinator suggestions

(expect wide overlap in
bloom times)
Duke Blooms relatively late but is one of the first varieties to ripen. 900 Early Blueray, Patriot,
Berries are firm, large and light blue with a mild flavor. Plants Spartan
are upright in shape and have a medium to high yield potential.
Plants are susceptible to stem canker and maintaining vigorous
plants in older plantings can be a challenge. Phomopsis twig blight
resistance. Needs a good growing site.

Blueray Large, firm fruit have excellent flavor. Upright, vigorous plants are 800 Early to mid Duke, Patriot, Spartan
relatively tall and open with consistent production. Reported to do
well in hot summer and can withstand cold winters but needs to be
pruned properly to prevent over-producing.

Patriot Large fruit are light blue with excellent flavor. Vigorous, upright and 950 Early to mid Duke, Blueray, Spartan
productive plants are short and have a spreading habit. Reported
to be adaptable in terms of soil preferences.

Spartan Berries are large, light blue and have excellent flavor. Plants are 800 Early to mid Duke, Blueray, Patriot
moderately vigorous and productive with an upright growing habit.
Prefers lighter soils and can be sensitive to higher pH levels.

Bluecrop Mid-season fruiting of large, light blue berries with good firmness, 800 Mid Bluegold, Toro
flavor (can be tart) and yield. Plants are vigorous, upright,
productive and well adapted in that they have been widely planted
with few management issues. Pruning will likely be needed to
prevent over-cropping.

Bluegold Large clusters of medium to large, flavorful, firm, light blue berries. 1000+ Mid Bluecrop, Toro
Vigorous spreading plants with yellow fall foliage makes this
compact plant a good landscape option as well.

Toro Plants have a rounded, spreading habit of growth. Medium blue 800-1000 Mid Bluecrop, Bluegold
fruit are mild in flavor, firm and very large. Berries grow in large
clusters that make for easy hand picking.

Chandler Plants are vigorous and tend to have a spreading growth habit. 900 Mid to late Bluecrop, Bluegold,
Fruit have good flavor and are very large, which is the trait of most Toro, Jersey
interest in the market.

Jersey The berries are medium in size, light blue and have a mild flavor. 800 Late Bluecrop, Bluegold,
Vigorous, upright and productive plant that is reported to establish Toro
well because of tolerance of a range of soils. This is a well-known,
reliable and widely adaptable cultivar released in 1928.

Southern Highbush
Southern highbush blueberries are more challenging than rabbiteyes to grow. And since this type is newer, nuances of
location, soil, climate and longevity are not very well known. Gardeners should be aware of these newer types because they
are becoming more common in trade. However, cultivar recommendations for southern highbush are more challenging
because fewer long-terms trials have been conducted. Most southern highbush cultivars are susceptible to Phomopsis twig
blight with the exception of Reveille, which has some disease tolerance. Cultivar trials are underway, and UT Extension
researchers will update publications as performance becomes better known.

4 Selecting Blueberries for Residential Production in Tennessee

 Name Cultivar Description Chill hours Harvest season Pollinator suggestions
Sweetheart Vigorous plants that grow rapidly and have shown high yields. Estimated Early Ozark Blue, Reville
Berries are light blue and large with good flavor. This 2010 release 750-800
from the USDA is a highbush cross between northern and southern
to target a more noncommercial market. It has been reported to
sometimes bear a second late summer crop of blueberries and is
widely available from mail order suppliers.

Ozark Blue Semi-upright and fairly vigorous plants that can have heavy fruit Estimated Early-mid Sweeheart, Reville
loads that bend canes. As far as fruit quality, they are reported to 800-1000
be high in flavor and firmness with a large size. This cultivar was
bred and released by the University of Arkansas and the USDA in
1996. It has been shown in trials to be winter hardy and vigorous
in climates similar to Tennessee, so it should be considered by
gardeners with interest in southern highbush types.

Reveille Plants have a narrow-upright habit and are vigorous and productive. Estimated Early-mid Ozark Blue, Summit
Berries are small to medium in size and a light blue color with good 700-1000
flavor. Fruit cracking has been an issue when seasons are rainy. This
is a relatively high-chill cultivar released by NC State University.
Phomopsis twig blight resistance.

Legacy Upright and productive bush with medium to large light blue Estimated Mid-late Summit
berries that have good flavor. Plants are reported to grow well 500-600
on some sites with finer textured soil. This cultivar has been
productive in UTIA trials over the past several years, so it is the
southern highbush most well-known in Tennessee. It has also been
reported to be relatively adaptable at other sites and has good
resistance to anthracnose fruit rot.

Summit Semi-upright plant with medium vigor. The fruit are firm with Estimated Mid-late Ozark Blue, Legacy
excellent color and flavor and performed well in terms of lack 800
of cracking and picking scars. This was a cultivar cooperatively
released by NC State University and the USDA. Reported to be a
consistent, high-yielding cultivar.

Dwarf/Container
These blueberry hybrids were developed for small-scale and generally noncommercial growing, and some are found in trade
under series or trademarked names. Their short stature is better suited to container cultivation and can serve both edible and
ornamental roles in the residential landscape. Chill hour needs vary widely in these container blueberries, so use caution when
purchasing to ensure the cultivar is well suited to the Mid-South region. There are few known cultivar trials, so cultivars listed
here were selected for climatic suitability. Their listing here does not necessarily indicate known productivity in the landscape
because of lack of trialing data. While often marketed as self-pollinating, yields and fruit size are likely to improve when
multiple cultivars are present (and blooming at the same time) for cross-pollination.

Name Cultivar Description

Berrybux This compact (2-3 feet) blueberry has a more full and bushy growth habit and can be used in a container or in the landscape as
a small hedge type shrub. It has small berries in summer. Requires 600 chill hours.

Jelly Bean Mounded plant that is 1 to 2 feet in height with large, sweet berries. Can be grown in ground or in container. Green leaves can
have some red tips under cooler conditions. Over 1,000 chill hours.

Perpetua This upright plant will attain a height of 4 to 5 feet with dark green leaves that color to deep red in the fall. Fruit can be
harvested in summer around the time of other cultivars, but fruit can also be produced on new wood to yield a fall crop. The
berries are small and deep blue. Requires more than 1,000 chill hours.

Pink Icing A mounded plant that reaches 3 to 4 feet in height. Spring foliage provides a range of green to blue leaf colors with new
leaves emerging red to pink. This plant often can be evergreen and is reported to have a unique blue/green winter color.
Berries are large. Requires 500 chill hours.

Tophat One of the earliest of the consumer-focused compact blueberry cultivars. Will produce small, flavorful, light blue berries
in summer with the dark green foliage turning red/orange in the fall. This plant is deciduous and requires more than 1,000
chill hours.

5 Selecting Blueberries for Residential Production in Tennessee

References and Further Reading:
Cultivar information from recent Extension publications in the southeast and lower Midwest were used to develop these tables.
• Midwest Blueberry Production Guide: www2.ca.uky.edu/agcomm/pubs/ID/ID210/ID210.pdf
• Blueberry Variety Releases from the University of Georgia: smallfruits.org/files/2019/06/NewUGABlueberryVarieties2012.pdf
• Blueberry Cultivars for Georgia: smallfruits.org/files/2019/06/06bbcvproc_Nov0206.pdf
• Suggestions for Establishing a Blueberry Planting in Western North Carolina: https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/suggestions-for-
establishing-a-blueberry-planting-in-western-north-carolina
• Blueberry Production in the Garden: www.uaex.edu/publications/PDF/FSA-6104.pdf
• University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service Fruit, Vegetable and Nut Update, 2018-03-28:
www.uaex.edu/farm-ranch/crops-commercial-horticulture/horticulture/ar-fruit-veg-nut-update-blog/posts/Blueberry%20
Variety%20Trial.aspx

Potential Suppliers:
(Intended as suggestions and certainly not as an exhaustive list)
• Bottoms Nursery: bottomsnursery.com
• Hartmann’s Plant Company: hartmannsplantcompany.com
• Ison’s Nursery and Vineyard: isons.com
• Rabbit Ridge Nursery: rabbitridgeberryfarm.com
• Finch Blueberry Nursery: finchblueberrynursery.com
• Nourse: noursefarms.com

Supplier Link: tiny.utk.edu/FruitSupplierList

W 895-A 04/21 20-0096 Programs in agriculture and natural resources, 4-H youth development, family and consumer sciences, and resource development. University of Tennessee
Institute of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture and county governments cooperating. UT Extension provides equal opportunities in programs and employment.