'Patriot' Blueberry
Shrub
UNABLE TO SHIP TO: CANADA, WA, OR
ZONE
EXPOSURE
HEIGHT
Description
Wondering how to grow blueberries in your garden? There are a few key requirements for success! ‘Patriot’ blueberry grows in extremely high acidic soil (pH 4.5 to 6.8) due to its highbush nature. Growing them in basic soil will lead to discoloration and low berry production. If your garden isn't acidic, don't worry. Just use organic acid fertilizer (like azalea fertilizer) or sulfur to adjust the pH. Growing them in containers makes this even easier! Make sure they're watered frequently and deeply to keep the soil moist. Learn more on how to grow blueberries in the "how to grow" tab.
Details
Common name: Blueberry, High bush blueberry
Zone: 4 - 7
Sun exposure: Full sun (6+ hours sun) to part sun (4-6 hours sun)
Height x width: 4-6' tall and wide
Flower color: White
Foliage color: Green
Season of interest: Late summer
Bloom time: Late spring
Features: Native, heat tolerant, fall color, container plants, wet soils
Uses: Edible garden, container plant, native garden, hedge, specimen
How to Grow
Light: Thrives in full sun (> 6 hours sun) but tolerates part sun (4-6 hours sun).
Water: Keep the soil moist but not too wet. We suggest watering frequently and deeply.
Spacing: minimum 3 feet apart
Fertilizing: In spring, apply an organic acid fertilizer, like those recommended for azaleas. If leaves are discolored or growth is slow, test the soil and apply more fertilizer or sulfur-based soil amendment.
Winterizing: Apply a thick layer of mulch around the base of the plants for insulation. Do not prune before winter.
Maintenance & pruning: Prune plants in early spring before growth starts to promote vigorous growth. Fruit is only produced on one-year-old wood, which means stimulating new shoot growth each spring is required for more berry production. However, pruning too aggressively will have the opposite effect.
Plant spacing is based on the ultimate width of the plants. This figure is normally given as a range; for example, 3-5’. If you live in a cold climate and/or want plants to fill in more quickly, plan to space at the shorter end of the range. If you live in a warm climate, are on a limited budget, or are willing to wait longer for plants to touch, use the higher end of the range. Using the larger number is recommended when calculating distance from a building or structure. There’s really no such thing as "maximum spacing": if you don’t want your plants to touch, you can space them as far apart as you’d like. All plant spacing is calculated on center, or in other words, the centers of the plants are spaced one half of their eventual width apart:
Unless you are planting in a straight line, as you might for hedges or edging, space your plants in a staggered or zig-zag pattern for a more interesting and naturalistic look:
Not sure just how many plants will fit in your garden? Our calculator gives you the exact amount of plants required for your space. Simply update the values and the calculator will re-calculate accordingly. Spacing information can be found in the 'How to Grow' tab on each plant's page.