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BLUEBERRY VARIETY CHART - NORTHERN HIGHBUSH

Northern Highbush | Southern Highbush | Rabbiteyes

	FRUIT			BUSH	PRIMARY USE
Variety	Season	Size	Qualities	Habit	Commercial Fresh	Process	Local Market & U-Pick
Northern Highbush Earliblue	Very Early		Light Blue Sweet	Upright Compact
Earliblue continues to be popular as it produces the first quality berries on the market and is easy to grow. Not as heavy a producer as the midseason varieties but the gross dollar return per acre can be excellent since the early season price is usually higher. Avoid frost pockets and poorly drained soil. Mechanical harvesting is quite successful with Earliblue when targeted for the process market.
Northern Highbush Duke	Early		Light Blue Very Firm Mild Flavor	Stocky Upright
Duke, a very productive cultivar, is the leading Northern Highbush variety in the West and many other parts of the world. It is known for its high, early yields and excellent quality fruit. The berries remain evenly sized throughout harvest. The mild flavor improves with cold storage. We find the only disadvantage to Duke is that it can be a challenge to maintain plant vigor over a long period of time. Growers must choose a quality growing site and continually employ good cultural practices. With a proven track record as one of the best varieties for mechanical harvest, Duke remains one of the top choices of all Highbush varieties.
Northern Highbush Reka	Early		Dark Blue Excellent Flavor	Upright Vigorous
A release from New Zealand, Reka is one of the fastest growing, most adaptable varieties we have evaluated. Reka grows well in a number of different soil types and is more tolerant of wet, heavier ground than many other varieties. Growers are especially enthusiastic about Reka’s extreme production. The yield curve is quite steep, out-producing most others in the early years and surpassing most at maturity. Although it’s found reasonable success in the fresh market, Reka is a preferred variety of process growers for its superior machine harvest characteristics and high yields.
Northern Highbush Spartan	Early		Medium Blue Superb Flavor	Moderately Vigorous Upright
Spartan was introduced on the West Coast in 1981 and it has been popular ever since. It is moderately productive, blooms late but ripens early, and is frost resistant. Spartan’s flavor makes is a front runner of all Highbush varieties. Spartan can be site specific, preferring light, well drained soil. Once established in a favorable site it can be hard to beat.
Northern Highbush Patriot	Very Early		Medium Blue Slightly Flat Good Flavor	Slightly Spreading Short Stature
Patriot, a super hardy variety, is also one of the heaviest producers. The berries hang in large clusters like grapes. The bush is of low to medium stature with pliable branches that will yield to heavy snow loads in winter. Plants are easy to establish, tolerating less than ideal conditions such as wet or heavy soils. Berries are very large with a small, dry scar and fair fresh quality. Patriot is well-suited for U-pick or farm sales in areas with colder winters or shorter growing seasons.
Northern Highbush Northland	Early-Mid		Medium Blue Sweet	Vigorous Spreading
Northland performs quite well in cold climates or where extreme winter and summer temperatures may preclude other varieties. One of the heaviest producing varieties grown, Northland is doing well in Canada, the inland areas of the West and other regions with cold winters. Northland is recommended for processing, local farm sales or blueberry growing areas with very cold winter temperatures.
Northern Highbush Bluejay	Early-Mid		Light Blue Firm Mild Flavor	Upright Extremely Vigorous
Bluejay is recommended for growers requiring a variety suited to mechanical harvesting. The bush grows rapidly and is easy to establish. Berries are formed in loose clusters that will hang for long periods of time so that most of the fruit can be harvested in one picking. The medium-sized berry with a small dry scar and thick skin is acceptable for fresh, but is best suited for the process market. Excellent overall production can be sustained year after year under good growing conditions. In some colder regions, Bluejay has shown some vulnerability in yield, possibly due to poor pollination and frost during bloom.
Northern Highbush Chippewa	Mid		Light Blue Firm & Sweet	Compact Upright
Chippewa is a 1996 Half-High release from the University of Minnesota. Parentage incorporates some of the most cold-hardy selections known. Production and fruit size has been similar to Northblue. Fruit of Chippewa is larger than Polaris, lighter blue, with milder flavor. Recommended in all areas where a super cold hardy variety is desired.
Northern Highbush Northblue	Mid		Dark Blue Wild Flavor	Open Semi-Dwarf
Northblue was released as a Half-High commercial variety by the University of Minnesota. Quite productive for its size, Northblue has produced between 3 and 7 pounds per bush in Minnesota tests. Initial observation in Oregon indicates a high yield potential in milder climates. For commercial plantings, 2’ to 3’ by 8’ spacing is recommended. Very little pruning is needed for Northblue the first few years, then regular thinning of old wood is recommended. Northblue is suggested for colder winter climates for commercial, U-pick and local farm sales.
Northern Highbush Blueray	Mid		Light Blue Excellent Flavor	Upright Open
Blueray excels in marginal Northern Highbush blueberry growing areas where winters are more severe. It’s large berry size with medium to large scar and superior flavor makes Blueray a good choice for u-pick and local farm sales. Blueray produces best in intensive plantings with severe pruning; its tight clusters discourage machine harvest of the first picking.
Northern Highbush Toro	Mid		Medium Blue Firm Mild Flavor	Upright Spreading
Toro produces outstanding fresh market quality fruit. The easy-to-pick, medium scar berries form in large clusters that hang like grapes. Production has been consistent and quite high in Oregon. Toro is highly recommended for fresh market and local sales. The large, tight clusters discourage machine harvest of the first picking.
Northern Highbush Hardyblue	Mid		Light Blue Very Sweet	Upright Vigorous
Hardyblue is a time proven variety with many acres planted throughout the Northwest. It is more adaptable to heavier soils than most varieties and it is a heavy producer with consistently high brix (sugar) content. The bush shape, open cluster and concentrated ripening characteristics make it one of the best for mechanical harvesting. It is excellent for local fresh sales but is not suitable for long distance fresh shipping. This variety is highly recommended where a heavy producing process berry is desired.
Northern Highbush Draper US Plant Patent 15103	Mid		Light Blue Firm, Crisp Sweet Flavor	Stocky Upright
Draper, an early mid-season cultivar, is highly productive with outstanding fresh market quality berries. Draper’s machine harvest characteristics include exceptional firmness, concentrated ripening, and easy release of ripe fruit from loose clusters that bear fruit on a strong, small stature bush. The berries have excellent post-harvest color retention and superior shelf life. We believe that Draper may be a cultivar that can be consistently harvested mechanically and shipped fresh. Draper is recommended for both fresh and process growers desiring an improved machine harvested mid-season variety. Fall Creek™ is the exclusive licensed nursery for states west of the Mississippi River and Canadian provinces excluding British Columbia.
Northern Highbush Bluegold	Mid		Sky Blue Round Very Firm Flavorful	Compact Spreading
When first released in 1990, Bluegold was thought to be late ripening. We later learned that this cold-hardy variety was actually mid-season, ripening most of its fruit within the first two pickings of Bluecrop. A pleasant surprise was the very high production of truly superior fruit. The berries are very firm, flavorful and evenly-sized with a small recessed scar. Bluegold’s shelf life is outstanding. Particularly exciting is its concentrated ripening, making Bluegold one of the most economical varieties for hand and mechanical harvesting. We recommend Bluegold for growers desiring a superior quality mid-season berry for fresh or processed sales.
Northern Highbush Bluecrop	Mid		Light Blue Firm Flavorful	Upright Open
Bluecrop remains the industry’s standard of excellence, most reliable and the most widely planted of any cultivar. An easy bush to grow, Bluecrop has very few problems. It can withstand spring frosts quite well, resulting in high, consistent yields. The fruit can be tart and show a large percentage of “red backs” if picked too early. Machine harvesting of Bluecrop has become more feasible with the implementation of color sorters in the processing lines. Bluecrop is recommended for all facets of blueberry production.
Northern Highbush Chandler	Mid-Late		Medium Blue Excellent Flavor	Slightly Spreading
Chandler is a 1994 USDA release noted for its exceptionally large, high quality fruit. Chandler berries are often as large as a quarter and sometimes even bigger. A key to this large size is the long ripening season. Chandler can be picked regularly over 4-6 weeks. It is perfect for Upick and direct market sales where a hand picked standout berry is needed. Yields have been good to excellent. It is recommended for production in areas with milder winters where high-chill varieties do well.
Northern Highbush Rubel	Mid-Late		Dark Blue Intense Flavor	Upright Medium Vigor
Despite the hundreds of new varieties released since 1912, this wild selection continues to be grown in many areas. Rubel offers consistent yields of small fruit in loose clusters, perfect for machine harvest. Rubel is well liked by processors because of its clean harvest, uniformly dark color and low stem count. Food manufacturers covet the small fruit as one of the best for muffins, yogurts and dried products. Of additional interest to growers and marketers is Rubel’s extremely high content of antioxidants, compounds that have been identified as playing a major role in improving eyesight, lowering cholesterol levels and preventing cancer, as well as many other health benefits. This research opened new markets for blueberries in general and Rubel in particular. We recommend Rubel for growers looking to mechanically harvest yet diversify their product line for the process market.
Northern Highbush Legacy	Mid-Late		Light Blue Excellent Flavor	Upright Open Vigorous
Legacy is a 1993 USDA release from New Jersey. Observations at Fall Creek™ and numerous sites across the country indicate that Legacy is highly adaptable to numerous climates, including many southern and moderate-climate northern regions. This variety tends to be a little slower to produce in the first couple of years, but then responds with very high yields once established. Legacy has received top ranking reviews for its fruit quality, superior scar and flavor. Mechanical harvest suitability is good since the ripe berries detach very easily and green berries hold well. Legacy is a Northern-Southern cross, including 25% V. darrowi. It will keep its leaves through most of the winter. We recommend Legacy for planting in mild climates and for trial only in colder areas for both fresh market and process sales.
Northern Highbush Jersey	Late		Medium Blue Sweet	Upright Vigorous
Jersey is one of the oldest and most dependable varieties. It grows well in most types of soil, producing consistent yields of very sweet fruit. The loose clusters and upright bush are well-suited for mechanical harvesting. Jersey is best suited and a good choice for the process market where a small to medium sized berry is desirable .
Northern Highbush Darrow	Late		Light Blue Excellent Tart Flavor	Upright
In milder blueberry growing areas such as Oregon, Darrow is a fast growing, consistent producer of good quality late season fruit. Darrow is picked 4-6 times through the season, with the first pick yielding fruit that is the size of a quarter and has a large scar. The slightly tart flavor is outstanding for cooking or eating fresh. Recommended for U-pick and farm sales. Not suitable for machine harvesting.
Northern Highbush Ozarkblue US Plant Patent 10035	Late		Light Blue Firm High Quality	Upright Vigorous
Ozarkblue has been listed for a number of years in our Southern section, but its outstanding performance here in the Northwest warrants consideration by growers in cooler climates. Here in the West, Ozarkblue distinguishes itself as a late blooming, late ripening cultivar with excellent fresh fruit quality berries that retain their size through the harvest. Production figures have been very impressive in Oregon, out-yielding Bluecrop. Ozarkblue may only be partially self-fertile and will benefit from cross pollination. For highest yields rows should be alternated with another variety such as Bluecrop, Legacy or Liberty. Ultimate cold hardiness of Ozarkblue is not known. It is recommended for commercial planting in mild areas of moderate winters with 800 hours chilling and for trial in colder zones. Fall Creek™ is licensed to sell Ozarkblue throughout the United States and is the exclusive licensed nursery for Ozarkblue in Washington, Oregon and California.
Northern Highbush Liberty US Plant Patent 15146	Late		Sky Blue Very Firm Flavorful	Upright Vigorous Slightly Spreading
Liberty is a selection from a Brigitta x Elliott cross and seems to have inherited the best characteristics of both. First harvest is about a week before Elliott, ripening over two to three pickings. The berries are slightly flat with an attractive sky-blue color and outstanding firmness. Liberty is proving to be a fast growing upright bush, with strong potential for high yields during the establishment years. Testing in our trial blocks show good potential for mechanical harvest as the cluster is loose and ripe berries detach easily from the bush. The flavor is reminiscent of Brigitta but the production is notably better. Consistent high yields in Michigan indicate that the buds and wood of Liberty are tolerant to fluctuating late fall and spring temperatures and cold winters. We highly recommend Liberty for late season fresh and process markets. Fall Creek™ is the exclusive licensed nursery for states west of the Mississippi River and Canadian provinces excluding British Columbia.
Northern Highbush Elliott	Very Late		Light Blue Firm, Tart	Upright Open
For the last decade, Elliott has been the leading late season blueberry for the fresh market. It is used extensively in controlled atmosphere storage programs to extend shelf life for up to 8 weeks. The berries are medium sized, with a small, dry scar, with high acid and slightly tart flavor that ripen over a long period of four to five weeks depending on location. Elliott can be vulnerable to high temperatures during harvest, resulting in soft and wrinkled berries. It is consistently rated as one of the highest producers in most Highbush trial sites around the world. Elliott has moderate vigor and must be adequately pruned to retain bush growth and berry size.
Northern Highbush Aurora US Plant Patent 15185	Very Late		Medium Blue Firm Slightly Tart	Moderately Vigorous Spreading
Aurora is the latest ripening new release from Michigan State University, offering northern growers an opportunity to extend the fresh fruit season. Our observations here in Oregon find Aurora to have an extremely high yield capacity. The berries ripen over three to four pickings and average in size about 25% larger than Elliott with a slightly darker color. Aurora seems to be more resistant to cracking than most varieties. The postharvest problems that can plague Elliott do not seem to be apparent with Aurora. Aurora berries can be tart and must be harvested when fully ripe. Early reports indicate that the flavor is superior to Elliott. In controlled atmosphere storage studies, Aurora stored slightly longer than Elliott. We recommend Aurora for growers where a cold hardy, hand harvest berry is desired to extend the fresh market harvest season. Fall Creek™ is the exclusive licensed nursery for states west of the Mississippi River and Canadian provinces excluding British Columbia.