Sunshine Blue Blueberry

© Great Plant Picks

© Great Plant Picks

© Great Plant Picks

Common Name: Sunshine Blue Blueberry

Sunshine Blue' is a winner for the home garden. Surprisingly, it was originally bred as a crop blueberry but wasn't a huge hit: its very long fruiting season makes harvest impractical. As an edible-ornamental, though, it is a star. Its new leaves are sky blue and mature to blue-grey. In spring it produces bell-shaped, pink flowers that mature into delicious blue berries from late July through August. In autumn, some of its leaves turn red and fall to the ground. But about half of them remain and look very decorative through winter! Unlike most fruiting blueberries, 'Sunshine Blue' is self-pollinating.

Plant this ornamental blueberry in full sun to light or open shade. It will grow best in rich moist to well-drained soil. Make sure drainage is adequate as it will not tolerate waterlogged locations. Regular watering and fertilizing provides the best and most vigorous growth. Older twiggy and weak stems can be pruned out to encourage strong growth. Pruning is best done in winter.

(Source: Great Plant Picks)