Selecting appropriate blueberry varieties is not a simple matter. Many growers are limited by climate to only the hardiest.
The USDA Zone Map will help to determine what varieties are best for your area.
Although most blueberries are self-pollinating, planting at least two different varieties improves size and increases the percentage of successful pollination. So selecting at least 2 varieties should also be factored in.
Basic Categories
There are 4 basic categories that Blueberries fall into, which can be further broken down into a multitude of blueberry varieties
1. Rabbit eye blueberries
Grow to 15 feet tall
Generally Hardy up to USDA Zone 6
The flowers have both male and female organs and are pollinated by Insects.
Rabbit-eye varieties require another rabbit-eye variety for cross pollination.
2. High Bush blueberries
Grow 6 to 12 feet tall
High-bush Varieties don’t require a cross pollinator
See:The Highbush Blueberry and Its Management
3. Low Bush blueberries
Grow 1 to 2 feet tall
Blooms April and May with rare exceptions
Hardy to USDA Zone 2.
4. Mid High blueberries
Grow 2 to 4 feet tall.
Generally these are hybrid crosses of various cultivars , no standardized characteristics apply
Popular Blueberry Varieties
Berkeley Susceptible to mummyberry phomopsis canker. Resistant to powdery mildew. Matures Mid Season. 5 to 7 feet tall Fully mature (zones 7 to 5)
Bluecrop. very resistant to shoestring, moderately resistant to mummyberry, powdery mildew and red ringspot; Matures Mid Season. 4 to 6 feet tall (zones 4 to 7)
Bluegold Susceptible to mummyberry. Matures Mid Season 3 to 5 feet tall (zones 4 to 7)
Bluehaven Susceptible to mummyberry and phomopsis canker. Matures Early midseason. 3 to 5 feet tall (zones 5 to 7)
Bluejay resistant to shoestring and mummyberry. Matures Early to midseason. 5 to 7 feet tall (zones 4 to 7)
Blueray susceptible to mummyberry. Matures Mid Season. Requires heavy pruning. 4 to 6 feet tall. (zones 4 to 7)
Bluetta mummyberry resistant to phomopsis canker; Early Season (zones 3 to 7)
Burlington shoestring resistant to mummyberry; Late Season (zones 3 to 7)
CollinsCollins Blueberry susceptible to mummyberry Early midseason (zones 3 to 7)
Coville moderately resistant to mummyberry, powdery mildew, fusicoccum canker Late midseason (zones 5 to 7)
Darrow resistant to mummyberry and shoestring Late Mid Season Northern Highbush . 4 to 6 feet tall. Extremely Large berries. (zones 4 to 7)
Duke Blueberry Resistant to mummyberry Early Season Northern Highbush . 4 to 6 feet tall. weak flavor.(zones 5 to 8)
Earliblue shoestring, mummyberry, phomopsis canker resistant to powdery mildew Early Season (zones 3 to 7)
Elliott susceptible to shoestring resistant to mummyberry, phomopsis canker and anthracnose; Late Season slightly tart flavor. very firm berries, store well. Northern Highbush . 4 to 6 feet tall. (zones 4 to 7)
Jersey. Susceptible to shoestring moderately resistant to mummyberry, red ringspot; Late Season 6 to 8 feet tall (zones 4 to 8)
Lateblue mummyberry Late Season {Very Late} (zones 5 to 7)
Legacy Ripens mid to late-season. Adapts well to many types of soil . Southern Highbush . 4 to 6 feet tall (zones 5 to 8)
Little Giant Mid Season The fruits are very small, extremely flavorful. (zones 4 to 7)
Nelson. Matures Late Season. Northern Highbush 5 to 7 feet tall (zones 4 to 8)
Northblue resistant to mummyberry. Early midseason 2 to 3 feet high (zones 3 to 7)
Northcountry Early midseason (zones 4 to 8)
Northland mummyberry resistant to shoestring; Early season Northern Highbush. 4 to 7 feet tall (zones 3 to 7)
Northsky. resistant to mummyberry Matures Mid Season
Pamlico. Susceptible to stem blight (zones 6-10)
Patriot. Susceptible to phytopthora root rot Early Season Very large firm berries Very good flavor. 3 to 5 feet high . (zones 3 to 7)
Rancocas moderately susceptible to mummyberry and shoestring; resistant to fusicoccum canker, powdery mildew Mid Season Lowbush Ripe fruit can crack in moist weather. (zones 5 to 8)
Rubel mummyberry, necrotic ringspot, mosaic and shoestring moderately resistant to fusicoccum canker Mid Season 5 to 8 feet tall with a 3 to 4 foot spread (zones 4 to 7)
Sierra mummyberry Mid Season Northern Highbush 5 to 6 feet tall powder blue large berry (zones 5 to 8)
Sunshine Blue Mid Season 3 to 5 feet high Berries are mid-season, dime-sized with a tangy flavor (zones 4 to 7)
Spartan susceptible to shoestring moderate resistant to mummyberry Early Mid Season 5 to 6 feet tall, and 4 to 6 feet wide. very sweet, with an intense flavor Northern Highbush (zones 3 to 7)
Toro Mid Season Northern Highbush 4 to 6 feet tall (zones 4 to 7)
Weymouth susceptible to mummyberry and shoestring Early season.