A double-cropping blueberry bush so compact you can put it in a tub on the deckthat's the glory of Perpetua. Not only does this bushy, attractive little shrub set two crops of small, sweet berries, it also offers white flowers twice a season, boasts beautiful foliage changes in fall, and drops its foliage in winter to reveal bright yellow and red canes. True multiseason beauty awaits you with Perpetua.
This edible ornamental is just 4 to 5 feet high and wide, and may stay smaller in containers. In spring the new foliage emerges curled, twisted, and glossy, a fresh shade of green that is topped by small white blooms in midseason. The flowers are followed by masses of berries that ripen by midsummer. As soon as this crop sets, new blooms begin opening, and a second fruiting occurs in early fall, even as the foliage is changing to deep shades of red and falling from the shrub.
As beautiful as the flowering and fruiting seasons are, Perpetua is also stunning in winter. The fallen leaves reveal slender canes of bright yellow and red, which keep their color all season, adding much needed brilliance to the sleeping garden or patio. Truly a four-season blueberry you will treasure for years to come.
Perpetua> is one of the Bushel and Berry™ (formerly BrazelBerries®) series of edible ornamentals with ever-changing foliage colors, small plant sizes (just right for containers), and plenty of yummy fruit. Developed by the Brazelton family of Oregon, these cultivars are self-pollinating, so you need plant only one to set fruit. But chances are, once you see the Bushel and Berries™, you'll simply have to have several. Enjoy the most exciting phenomenon in edible ornamentals right on your patio or deck.
Perpetua is dependable and easy to grow. It loves acidic, well-draining soil (pH 4.5 - 5.5 is best) in full sunshine everywhere but the hottest climates (where it appreciates some afternoon shade). In mid spring, prune away the stems that haven't put on any new growth. For the best fruiting, feed the plant in early spring and again later in the season, using Azalea food (or other acid-loving plant food), and adding in coffee grounds and blood meal if you can. Water it often (daily if in containers). That's all there is to it. Get ready to enjoy an abundance of delectable berries twice a year.
