Vaccinium DownHome Harvest® Bless Your Heart® Blueberry

A Southern Living rabbiteye blueberry variety from the DownHome Harvest® Collection, Bless Your Heart® has been rigorously tested and chosen for its greater vigor and higher yields of larger fruits with better flavor. This improved variety makes growing fruits at home easier than ever, especially in the South: rabbiteye blueberries are a Vaccinium ashei species, which are native to the Southeastern United States and, thus, heat and humidity tolerant.

Blueberry plants are highly ornamental and make excellent additions to an edible landscape. Bless Your Heart is a compact bush with an upright habit and moderate growth rate, reaching a mature size of approximately 4 to 5 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wide. The plant blooms late (avoiding frost damage), setting attractive bell-shaped white flowers. But it ripens fast, producing abundant clusters of firm, sweet, medium to large blueberries with beautiful color and a long shelf life. The bush attracts birds and butterflies and turns vibrant shades of red and orange in autumn. Plant blueberry bushes in a mixed bed, border, container, or woodland garden. Or mass plant as a low hedge or privacy screen. Just make sure you allow plants adequate space for healthy root development.

Blueberries have shallow, fibrous roots and need consistent moisture and good drainage. Full sun, acidic soil (4.5-5.2 pH), and yearly fertilization in spring produces the best fruiting and color. Any desired pruning should be done after fruiting. Bless Your Heart is disease and pest resistant.

Rabbiteye blueberries are self-pollinating but planting two or more rabbiteye varieties with similar bloom times encourages cross-pollination, producing larger yields of bigger berries. Planting early, mid-season, and late-fruiting varieties extends the blueberry season from early June to the end of the summer.

For more expert advice on nurturing your blueberry plants and other delicious fruits, be sure to check out our blog titled "Tips for Growing Delicious Berries, Grapes, Apples, Citrus, and More!" Our blog offers a wealth of information on cultivating a thriving garden, ensuring you get the most out of your blueberry plants and beyond.