Why plant Audubon® Native Lowbush Blueberry?
Berry bountiful Blueberries is the best way to describe the Audubon® Native Lowbush Blueberry! This is a deciduous native plant grows wild from all over the northeast of the United States and up into Canada. The Native Lowbush Blueberry comes to life in spring with glossy green foliage that offers tints of copper along the brim of the leaf. The production of small, bell shaped flowers are white in color with just a hint of blush pink. The blooms of the Audubon® Native Lowbush Blueberry welcome all sorts of pollinators as they work their hardest to bring about the delectable fruits - because without them, there are no fruits! Compared to the large-berried Highbush Blueberries (which are most commonly found in stores), the Native Lowbush Blueberry are smaller but pack a sweeter taste. Come fall, we are graced with a lovely change, as the glossy green foliage of the warmer months transitions to hues of red and purple to close out the year!
The small berries of the Audubon® Native Lowbush Blueberry pack a big punch - both in flavor and in ecological benefit. The berries of the Lowbush provide act as an important food source for several birds species and mammals. From the tiniest field mouse to the largest American Black Bear, animals will feast on the berries all fall long! Not to mention the different varieties of bees that visit the blooms for pollen and nectar or the butterflies and moths that use the Audubon® Native Lowbush Blueberry as their host plant. The value of the Audubon® Native Lowbush Blueberry in the American Native Landscape is overwhelming!
How to use Audubon® Native Lowbush Blueberry in the landscape?
The Audubon® Native Lowbush Blueberry is a must have for any home. Producing small bell-shaped flowers in early spring followed by the production of delicious blueberries, how could you resist! Aside from producing blueberries, these plants are phenomenal at flipping the script on old retired plots of land by revitalizing the soil! As for the berries, these tasty little treats can be enjoyed fresh off the plant, utilized in jams and jellies, cooked, or frozen! Of course, the endless options for baked goods is where we'd use these treats!
Planting Zones
Hardiness Zone: 3-7
How To Plant Audubon® Native Lowbush Blueberry
The Audubon® Native Lowbush Blueberry enjoys a location that offers full sun to partial shade. However, for a more “fruitful” harvest, we recommend maintaining locations that offer full sun. Blueberries can be self pollinating (thanks to those magical bees!), but for a larger harvest, planting more than one work wonders! Blueberries pair best with acidic soils or sites that offer sandy loam and well draining soil is preferred.
How To Water
When it comes to watering your Audubon® Native Lowbush Blueberry, we recommend watering at least twice a week to be sure your plant receives an inch or more of water. Growing fruit can be tough, but consistency is key! You will want to keep watering through the growing season to ensure proper growth and to support a healthy harvest.
How To Fertilize
The process for fertilizing your Audubon® Native Lowbush Blueberry is fairly simple. For optimal growth and harvest, we recommend fertilizing with the Bower & Branch Elements Starter Plant Food in early spring, before the push of new growth begins. Then again in fall, before dormancy kicks in. This will ensure the best possible growth and provide a 'fruitful' harvest!
How To Prune
Planted in the ground or utilized in containers, if you desire the ability to harvest blueberries, pruning your Audubon® Native Lowbush Blueberry is required. For single Lowbush Blueberries or ones grown in containers, you will want to prune any dead or broken branches while also cutting back a third of the plant at the base of the stem. The best time to do so is during the dormant season and, since Lowbush Blueberries grow on two year old canes, you should prune every other year for the best harvestable production.