Description
Northland is a half-high blueberry, which means it is a cross between the tall northern highbush and the wild lowbush blueberry of the far north. The result stays to about 4 ft, spreads with many shoots, and takes cold that ordinary blueberries will not survive, with most of the fruiting wood sitting low enough to be protected by snow.
It crops very heavily, and the berries are medium sized, dark blue and notably sweet, which is what makes them so good in jam and baking. The bright yellow wood carries the plant through winter, and the compact shape means it works as a hedge or a foundation shrub rather than needing a row of its own.
Overview
- Half-high type, to about 4 ft, bred for cold country.
- Very high yields of sweet, dark blue berries with high sugar.
- Bright yellow winter wood and a compact, landscape-friendly shape.
- Among the most cold-hardy blueberries available.
Growing Details
Latin Name: Vaccinium corymbosum x angustifolium ‘Northland’
Site and Soil: Full sun; acidic, well drained soil, pH 4.5 to 5.5
Hardiness: Hardy to USDA Zone 3
Rootstock: Grown from cuttings or tissue culture
Bearing Age: Fruits right away; full production in 5 to 6 years
Size at Maturity: Half-high, vigorous and spreading, to about 4 ft
Ripening Time: Early season; July into August
Pollination: Self-fertile; a second blueberry variety improves size and yield
Additional Notes
- Grower’s Insight: Half-highs need far less pruning than a tall blueberry, which is part of why they work as landscape shrubs rather than row plants.
- Regional Insight: Blueberries crop best where winters are cold enough to meet their chill and the soil is naturally acid, which covers most of the country once the planting hole is prepared properly.
- Explore more berries in our collection: Berries
