Downhome Harvest® I Declare™ Blueberry

Vaccinium corymbosum 'FL11-137' PP34596

I Declare Blueberry is a compact upright deciduous shrub with a dense habit and large, intensely blue sweet blueberries that ripen early.  The elliptical vivid rich foliage turns dark red in fall. The white flower clusters bloom in late spring.  Grows best with full sun and rich, moist acidic well-drained soils.  I Declare has a 500-550 chill hour requirement, and while self-pollinating cross-pollination will increase yield. 

Vaccinium corymbosum are highly valuable for wildlife as well, being listed as a host plant for 32 different butterflies and moths, and provides nectar to several specialized bees.  The berries and branches are good food sources for birds and mammals. 

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: Thyme, Strawberry, Raspberry

*As plants have ranges in appearance they may not appear as the images shown.