'Bluebell' Rabbiteye Blueberry

Vaccinium ashei 'Bluebell'

Bluebell Rabbiteye Blueberry is a vigorous upright deciduous shrub with an extended harvest season adapted for the southern US states.  Tiny white or pink flowers give way to large light blue berries with excellent flavor that ripen midseason.  The elliptical bright green foliage has nice fall colors. Grows best with full sun and rich, moist acidic well-drained soils.  Bluebell has very low chill requirements and  should be planted with others to cross-pollinate to increase yield.  Takes pruning well to maintain size.

MAINTENANCE NEEDS:  Medium Maintenance. Water regularly and mulch.  Prune as needed in late winter. Chlorosis may occur in high PH soils.  Blight, rot, anthracnose, canker, and mildew are occasional problems. Blueberry maggot, fruit worms, and spotted wing drosophila can damage the fruit.  Mummy berry is a fungal disease that shrivels and dries the fruit- remove effected fruit immediately if spotted.
LANDSCAPE USES:  Accents or Group Plantings, Borders, Naturalized Areas, Woodland Gardens, Rock Gardens, Hedges, Foundation Plantings, Edible Gardens, and Containers.

COMPANION PLANTS: Bayberry, Raspberry, Strawberry