Vaccinium Bless Your Heart® Rabbiteye Blueberry, a Southern Living variety from the DownHome Harvest® Collection, is celebrated for its greater vigor and higher yields of larger fruits with exceptional flavor. This improved variety simplifies home fruit growing, especially in the South, as it belongs to the Vaccinium ashei species, native to the Southeastern United States and tolerant of heat and humidity.
Highly ornamental, blueberry plants like Bless Your Heart are excellent additions to edible landscapes. This compact bush features an upright habit and moderate growth rate, reaching about 4 to 5 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wide. It blooms late, avoiding frost damage, with attractive bell-shaped white flowers, and ripens quickly to produce abundant clusters of firm, sweet, medium to large blueberries. These berries boast beautiful color and a long shelf life. The bush also attracts birds and butterflies and showcases vibrant red and orange foliage in autumn. Plant Bless Your Heart in mixed beds, borders, containers, or woodland gardens, or mass plant as a low hedge or privacy screen. Ensure adequate space for healthy root development.
Blueberries have shallow, fibrous roots requiring consistent moisture and good drainage. For the best fruiting and color, provide full sun, acidic soil (pH 4.5-5.2), and annual fertilization in spring. Any necessary pruning should be done after fruiting. Bless Your Heart is disease and pest resistant, making it a low-maintenance choice.
Rabbiteye blueberries are self-pollinating, but planting two or more varieties with similar bloom times encourages cross-pollination, resulting in larger yields and bigger berries. Additionally, planting early, mid-season, and late-fruiting varieties can extend the blueberry season from early June through the end of summer.
With its superior fruit quality and easy care, Bless Your Heart Rabbiteye Blueberry is a must-have for any garden, providing delicious berries and stunning ornamental appeal.
