Vaccinium corymbosum 'Premier' Play pronunciation

'Premier' is a rabbiteye cultivar of Vaccinium corymbosum in the Ericaceae (blueberry) family. This upright, multi-stemmed, slow-growing shrub with heights up to 8' is native to eastern North America.  Plant it for its edible fruit, its beautiful fall color, and as a food source for numerous native bees (including bumble bees and solitary bees).

Although blueberries are self-fertile, planting multiple cultivars that bloom at the same time will lead to larger berries and a higher yield. Extend your harvest by planting early-, mid-, and late-season blueberry varieties, which will extend the fruit season from June to mid-September. When planting and the year after, remove all flowers so that the shrub can focus on root and shoot growth. In the third year after planting, prune in late winter to remove dead wood and maintain the shrub's shape. 

Before planting, test the soil and follow the amendment instructions. Blueberries require a soil pH (ideally 5.0) which is much lower than many other small-fruit crops and plants. Group them with other acid-loving plants such as hollies, azaleas, rhododendrons and camellias. Blueberries need little annual attention, except for occasional pruning.

Use rabbiteye blueberries as a hedge or mass planting in edible, pollinator, butterfly, children’s, or rain gardens.

Fire Risk: This plant has a low flammability rating.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Spotted wing drosophila may attack the fruit. Potential but infrequent disease problems include stem blight, root rot, anthracnose, cane cankers, mildew, and botrytis. Mummy berry is a fungal disease that causes the berries to shrivel and drop. Birds relish the fruit, so cover shrubs with netting as the fruit ripens. They are highly susceptible to damage from deer. If the soil pH is too high, it will cause chlorosis (yellowing of leaves).

VIDEO: Created by Laura Barth for "Vegetables, Herbs, Fruits, and Nuts," a plant identification course developed in partnership with Longwood Gardens.

For more information on growing blueberries, see the Extension Gardener Handbook chapter on small fruits.

More information on Vaccinium corymbosum.