Darrow’s Blueberry (Vaccinium darrowii) is both a beautiful and edible edition to your garden! This time of year, the red, blue, purple, and green foliage plus the oncoming fruit crop really stand out. In shadier environments leaf color will remain a green to light blue color. In full sun the leaves develop a purple or red color. The berries are smaller than what you are used to seeing at the store, but still a tasty treat full of antioxidants. Growing this shrub also attracts a variety of birds and small mammals that delight in the small fruit produced.

An important species to commercial blueberry growers, this native plant has been used widely to improve southern highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum sp.) varieties, which has allowed for blueberry production in central and southern parts of Florida as well as other sub-tropical climates across the globe. Desirable traits of the Darrow’s blueberry include early flowering, low chill hour requirement, and evergreen growth.

Like other blueberry species, it prefers acidic soil with a pH between 4.0-5.5. It grows naturally in pine forests and flatwoods. If your native soil is already acidic this evergreen shrub will establish easily. A soil test can tell you what the pH of your soil is. To lower the pH of your soil you can use a sulfur amendment, blueberry or other acid loving plant fertilizers, and add a layer of pine bark mulch around the drip line of the plants. Once established, excess irrigation is typically not required.

Darrow’s blueberry has a relatively short stature and dwarf like growth habits. In our demonstration garden they are about 4 feet tall when unpruned but can be pruned easily to remain a low hedge or border planting. Plants will typically put out runners that start as a single cane a few feet from the main planting. You can dig these up and place in a desirable location or take softwood cuttings to propagate. Plants can be found at your local native nursery.

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