Vaccinium virgatum - Rabbiteye Blueberry
6-15' × 6-10' | Pinkish-white bell-shaped blooms, early spring | Upright, multi-stemmed, suckering shrub | Full sun to part shade, average to dry, highly acidic soils | Exceptional heat-tolerant edible and pollinator value
Native to the sandy pine barrens and woodland edges of the Southeast US, Vaccinium virgatum is a resilient, warm-climate standout. It thrives in organically rich, highly acidic areas (pH 4.5 to 5.5) but is significantly more tolerant of heat, drought, and poor soils than its Highbush cousin, making it an excellent, low-maintenance choice for Southern growers.
Dense clusters of delicate, pinkish-white bell-shaped flowers emerge in early spring, drawing in early-season bumblebees and native solitary bees. Spent blooms give way to firm, sweet berries that transition through a distinctive pink phase (resembling a "rabbit's eye") before ripening to a dusty blue in mid-to-late summer. Oval, grey-green leaves have a slightly leathery texture to resist summer heat, reliably turning a vibrant, fiery mix of crimson and orange in the autumn. Features a vigorous, upright suckering habit with attractive reddish-brown winter stems that provide structural visual interest in the winter landscape.
Rabbiteye Blueberry makes a great structural screen, tall hedge, or edible specimen plant thanks to its robust stature, heat tolerance, and massive fruit yields. Includes fantastic, heavy-bearing cultivars like 'Tifblue' (the industry standard for late ripening), 'Premier' (early, large fruit), and 'Climax' (excellent flavor).
Larval Host for:
Brown Elfin Callophrys augustinus
Striped Hairstreak Satyrium liparops
Huckleberry Sphinx Paonias astylus
Various Datana Moths Family Notodontidae
(Note: Rabbiteye blueberries are strictly not self-fertile. You must plant at least two different Rabbiteye cultivars that bloom at the same time to ensure cross-pollination and a berry harvest!)
More plant information: https://www.aces.edu/blog/topics/fruits-lawn-garden/home-gardening-rabbiteye-blueberries/
Specifications
| Plant Size | #3, #1, #5 |
| Variety | Tifblue, Powderblue, Pink Lemonade, Climax, Premier |
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