Rabbiteye Blueberry

Vaccinium virgatum

Ericaceae (Heath)

The blueberry built for the South — but it demands acidic soil, so test and amend before planting.

EdiblePerennial

Rabbiteye Blueberry (Vaccinium virgatum) illustration — Texas Roots plant database, by Jordan Polasek

Sun

Full sun

Water

Even — shallow roots

Soil

Acidic, organic, well-drained

pH

4.5–5.5

Hardiness

Hardy Southern shrub

Height

6–10 ft

Spacing

6 ft

Days to harvest

2–3 yr to bear

What it is

Rabbiteye Blueberry (Vaccinium virgatum) is in the Ericaceae (Heath) family. The blueberry built for the South — but it demands acidic soil, so test and amend before planting.

How to grow it

It wants full sun, water it even — shallow roots, and give it acidic, organic, well-drained soil. Target a soil pH around 4.5–5.5. Space plants about 6 ft apart. Expect roughly 2–3 yr to bear. Hardy Southern shrub.

How it's used

Rabbiteye Blueberry is used: fresh, frozen, baked.

🔎 How to identify it

Small oval leaves, red in fall
Bell-shaped spring flowers
Powder-blue berries in clusters

Edibility

PartsRipe fruit

UsesFresh, frozen, baked

CautionWon't thrive in alkaline soil; plant two varieties.

🌤 Before you plant: check the live 7-day garden weather to time it right for frost and heat.

Part of the free Texas Roots plant database, compiled by Jordan Polasek from his greenhouse in El Campo, Texas. Free to read and share. If it helped, the best thanks is to grow something.