How big does Highbush blueberry grow?

About 1.5 m × 1.5 m after ten years (height × width). Its ultimate size is 1.5–3.6 m × 1.5–3.6 m.

What soil does Highbush blueberry grow in?

It tolerates these soils: acidic, sandy.

Is Highbush blueberry hardy?

Hardy down to -29 °C (USDA zone 4, RHS H7). It gets through winter in every part of the country.

Is Highbush blueberry toxic to dogs?

No. Reliable sources list it as non-toxic to dogs.

Is Highbush blueberry toxic to children?

No. Reliable sources list it as non-toxic to children.

How far from the house should Highbush blueberry be planted?

Plant it at least 1.5 m from buildings. Keep it at least 0.5 m from paving.

When does Highbush blueberry flower?

Flowering: April–June, white, pink.

How much water does Highbush blueberry need?

Water need: high. Drought tolerance: low.

How much does Highbush blueberry cost?

It sells for roughly HUF 3,400 to HUF 9,000 in local shops, depending on size.

Highbush blueberry

Vaccinium corymbosum

Highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) is a fruit plant that reaches 1.5 m × 1.5 m after ten years. Light: full sun, part shade. Hardy down to -29 °C. Drought tolerance: low. Non-toxic to dogs and children. Sold in local shops from about HUF 3,400.

Illustration of Highbush blueberry — An illustration of the typical shape of the mature plant, not a photo.

What it's good for, and what it isn't

Highbush blueberry is a handsome, dense shrub with white bell flowers in spring, blue berries in summer and fiery red leaves in autumn. It only survives in strongly acidic (pH 4.5 to 5.5), humus-rich, evenly moist soil, so where the ground is limy grow it in a tub or raised bed filled with ericaceous compost and water it with rainwater. A single bush sets some fruit on its own, but for a really heavy crop of large berries plant two or three varieties that flower together (for example 'Bluecrop', 'Duke', 'Patriot').

Watch out for

Planted out in the typically limy, alkaline soils of Central Europe it does not survive: the leaves turn yellow (iron chlorosis), the bush sulks and then dies. Hard, limy tap water spoils even an acidic mix within a few years, so water with rainwater and keep topping up with ericaceous compost or pine bark mulch. Because of its shallow roots it copes badly with summer dryness and with tubs that heat up in hot weather. Birds strip the ripening berries unless you net the bush, and spotted wing drosophila can attack the fruit. It has escaped from cultivation into bogs in northern Germany, where it is rated as potentially invasive, but there is no risk of this on alkaline soils.

Key facts

Light: Full sun, Part shade
Water need: High
Care: High
Size after 10 years: 1.5 m × 1.5 m
Hardiness: down to -29 °C
Foliage: Deciduous
Flowering: J F M A M J J A S O N D April–June, white, pink

Group	Fruit
Light	Full sun, Part shade
Size after 10 years	1.5 m × 1.5 m
Ultimate size	1.5–3.6 m × 1.5–3.6 m
Hardiness	down to -29 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)
Soil	Acidic, Sandy
Foliage	Deciduous
Flowering	April–June, white, pink
Harvest	June–September
Self-fertile	no
Water need	High
Drought tolerance	Low
Maintenance	High
Root aggressiveness	Low
Suckering	no
Spreading	Low
Distance from buildings	at least 1.5 m
Distance from paving	at least 0.5 m
Litter	not typical
Planting distance	120 cm
For dogs	Non-toxic
For cats	Non-toxic (uncertain)
For children	Non-toxic
Typical price	from about HUF 3,400

Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor.

Sizes and prices available

The same plant is sold as a small pot and as a specimen several metres tall, and the price follows. Prices are rounded and for guidance only.

Size	Typical price
20+ cm	approx. HUF 4,400
20-30 cm	approx. HUF 4,400
30 cm	approx. HUF 5,700
40+ cm	approx. HUF 4,400
40-60 cm	approx. HUF 4,400
40 cm	approx. HUF 6,400
size not stated	approx. HUF 3,400 – HUF 9,000

Frequently asked questions

Data updated: October 8, 2026 · How our data is made

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