March 2002

 

Blueberry "Sunshine Blue Dwarf" – Vaccinium corymbosum

Origin: North America

 

"One morning as I was drinking my first cup of coffee of the day, I looked out the window to find a couple of birds jumping up and down around the bushes. Fascinated I watched their antics and laughed at how funny they looked as they jumped straight up to grab a berry. Then it dawned on me what they were doing, as they raided the fruit." Excerpted from Edible Landscaping – Shrubs to Munch On. Written by Debra Teachout -Teashon.

 So what had these birdies hard at work? It was fresh, sun-warmed blueberries.

 Sunshine Blue Dwarf is an exceptionally easy berry to grow. The plants are self-pollinating and it is more tolerant than most of high pH. Because it's a dwarf evergreen variety, growing from 3 to 4 feet in height, it works well in a container or as a hedge. The glossy silvery-green leaves turn to a lovely bronze color in the fall. In the spring, masses of pink flowers appear followed by loads of delicious, dime-sized, dark blue berries (each plant bears between 5 and 10 pounds).   

 It is a southern high-bush type with a low chill requirement of around 150 hours. The Sunshine Blue Dwarf performs best in full sun and slightly acidic, well-drained soil amended substantially with organic matter.

It is hardy from zones 5 to 9. 

 Why not make sure that you have plenty of fresh blueberries for muffins and to sprinkle on top of cereal or ice cream this summer? And don't forget to share some with your feathered friends.