Description
Top Hat was developed at Michigan State University and released in 1978, from a cross between the wild lowbush blueberry and northern highbush. It was one of the first blueberries bred deliberately for ornamental and container use rather than for a commercial field.
It forms a naturally spherical mound just 12 to 24 inches tall and wide, needing almost no pruning to keep its shape, and it is extremely cold hardy. The berries are medium to large and bright blue with the concentrated flavor of a wild blueberry rather than the mildness of a big highbush, and it ripens midseason.
Overview
- A dwarf mound 12 to 24 inches tall and wide, needing little pruning.
- Bright blue berries with intense wild-blueberry flavor.
- Bred in 1978 for pots rather than the field.
- Extremely cold hardy for its size.
Growing Details
Latin Name: Vaccinium corymbosum x angustifolium ‘Top Hat’
Site and Soil: Full sun; acidic, well drained soil, pH 4.5 to 5.5
Hardiness: Hardy to USDA Zone 3
Chill Requirement: About 1,000 to 1,200 hours
Rootstock: Grown from cuttings or tissue culture
Bearing Age: Fruits right away; full production in 5 to 6 years
Size at Maturity: Dwarf half-high, a mound 12 to 24 in tall and wide
Ripening Time: Mid season; July into August
Pollination: Self-fertile; a second blueberry variety improves size and yield
Additional Notes
- Grower’s Insight: A container blueberry can be given exactly the acid mix it wants, which is why a pot often outperforms a difficult garden bed.
- 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
