Highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum 'Atlantic')
Vaccinium corymbosum 'Atlantic' is a productive Highbush blueberry shrub growing 6-8ft tall, valued for edible fruit and vibrant fall color.
Complete Plant Information
Overview
The Vaccinium corymbosum ‘Atlantic’, widely known as the Highbush blueberry, is a highly valued upright, deciduous shrub prized for its attractive seasonality and delicious fruit production. This cultivar is recognized for yielding sweet, light blue berries, typically ripening in mid-season, making it a staple in edible landscapes. Mature plants develop a dense, rounded habit, reaching substantial heights of 6 to 8 feet, supported by attractive foliage that transitions to coppery red hues in autumn.
As a native to moist woods and low areas of eastern North America, Vaccinium corymbosum ‘Atlantic’ thrives best when cultural requirements align with its natural habitat, particularly demanding acidic soil conditions. Gardeners appreciate this variety not only for the harvest but also for its ornamental appeal provided by the spring urn-shaped flowers and striking fall color.
Successful cultivation of the Highbush blueberry relies on providing consistent moisture and ample sunlight, though it will tolerate light shade. Its robust nature, coupled with manageable size, makes Vaccinium corymbosum ‘Atlantic’ an excellent choice for dedicated fruit growers or ornamental hedging where an edible bonus is desired.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Ericaceae
- Plant Type: Fruit
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 5-8
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 6-8 ft
- Spread: 6-8 ft
- Bloom Time: May
- Bloom Description: White
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Water Needs: Medium to wet
- Maintenance Level: Medium
How to Grow
Planting Vaccinium corymbosum ‘Atlantic’ should occur in early spring or fall, avoiding the stress of summer heat. The most critical requirement for Highbush blueberry success is highly acidic, well-drained soil, preferably with a pH between 4.5 and 5.5. Amend heavy clay soils liberally with peat moss or compost to ensure aeration and acidity. Planting sites should receive full sun for maximum fruit set, though light afternoon shade is tolerable.
Watering is crucial, as this plant requires medium to wet conditions, especially during fruit development. Avoid letting the soil dry out completely. Fertilize acidic plant-specific formulations sparingly in early spring, focusing on promoting vegetative growth without over-stimulating the plant, which can lead to poor fruiting performance.
Maintenance for this variety is rated medium, primarily revolving around pruning. Annually remove weak, dead, or crossing branches in late winter while the plant is dormant. Removing older, less productive canes encourages vigorous new growth that produces the best fruit.
Pruning Vaccinium corymbosum ‘Atlantic’ back toward 6 feet can make harvesting easier and manage plant shape for hedging purposes, adhering generally to best practices for Highbush blueberry cultivation.
Landscape Uses
The Vaccinium corymbosum ‘Atlantic’ is exceptionally versatile in landscape design, serving effectively as both a productive food source and an ornamental element. Its upright, dense habit lends itself perfectly to use as an informal hedge, providing seasonal screening alongside the benefit of mid-summer berries. Fruit production, flowers, summer foliage, and superior fall color ensure its appeal year-round.
For optimal health and fruit yield, plant this Highbush blueberry near companions that share its need for acidic soil, such as rhododendrons and azaleas. This synergy simplifies soil amendment and management across a mixed border. It excels in shrub borders or within naturalized plantings like open woodlands or native plant gardens.
Consider planting several ‘Atlantic’ specimens together to ensure adequate cross-pollination, though this cultivar is often noted for good self-fertility. Leaving unpicked fruit can also provide supplementary food resources for local wildlife, integrating the plant into ecological landscaping schemes.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Showy
Fruit Qualities
- Showy
- Edible
Noteworthy Characteristics
Vaccinium corymbosum, commonly known as highbush blueberry, is an upright, deciduous shrub native to eastern North America where it typically grows in moist woods, bogs, swamps and low areas. Mature plants will reach around 5-8’ tall with an equal spread and a dense, rounded habit. The dark green, ovate to elliptic foliage can reach 3” long and 1” wide and turns bright shades of coppery red in fall. Loose corymbs of white, pendulous, urn-shaped flowers bloom in spring. The flowers can also have a pale pink tinge. The round, sweet berries are dark blue to purple with a dull, blue-grey bloom on their surface.The genus name Vaccinium comes from an ancient Latin name apparently derived from a prehistoric Mediterranean language. Its origin and meaning are generally considered to be lost to time.Specific epithet refers to the flowers and fruits being in a corymb.‘Atlantic’ typically grows 5-8’ tall (less frequently taller), but is arguably more manageable as a fruit crop when pruned to 6’ or less. Dainty, waxy, bell-shaped, white flowers appear in May. Flowers are followed by light blue blueberries (to 1/2” diameter) which ripen in mid-season (mid to late July in USDA Zone 5). Ovate, dark green leaves (to 3.5” long) turn attractive shades of red in fall. Reddish stems can be attractive in winter. ‘Atlantic’ reportedly grows well in Missouri.
Tolerances
Potential Problems
The most immediate threat to a bountiful harvest of Highbush blueberry fruit is birds, which quickly discover the ripening crop; covering plants with netting from early July onward is highly recommended for protection. Soil chemistry presents another significant management challenge; alkaline soils (high pH) cause chlorosis, which manifests as yellowing in the leaves, signaling iron deficiency.
While generally robust, Highbush blueberries can occasionally suffer from various diseases, including stem blight, root rot, anthracnose, cane cankers, mildew, and botrytis, often exacerbated by poor air circulation or overly wet conditions. Pest management also requires vigilance against pests like the blueberry maggot, cherry fruit worm, and spotted wing drosophila attacking the developing fruit, alongside the fungal issue known as Mummy berry.
Preventative measures focus on sanitation and soil management; ensuring sharp drainage, maintaining correct soil acidity, and promptly removing diseased wood are the best defenses against infrequent but potential disease and pest outbreaks affecting Vaccinium corymbosum ‘Atlantic’.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Highbush blueberry suitable for?
Vaccinium corymbosum ‘Atlantic’, or Highbush blueberry, is hardy and reliably grown in USDA Zones 5 through 8.
How large does Vaccinium corymbosum ‘Atlantic’ grow?
This cultivar generally matures to a height between 6 and 8 feet, with a similar spread of 6 to 8 feet, though pruning can keep it closer to 6 feet for easier fruit management.
What sun exposure does Vaccinium corymbosum ‘Atlantic’ need?
For best performance, especially for abundant fruit set, provide Vaccinium corymbosum ‘Atlantic’ with full sun, although it can tolerate partial shade conditions.
When does Highbush blueberry bloom?
The Highbush blueberry blooms during May, producing masses of dainty, white, bell-shaped flowers.
Conclusion
The Vaccinium corymbosum ‘Atlantic’ offers gardeners the combined appeal of ornamental beauty—especially its rich fall color—and highly palatable edible fruit. Cultivating this Highbush blueberry variety successfully relies heavily on meeting its specific needs for acidity and consistent moisture. Before planting, confirm your soil pH is suitably low, and plan for netted protection as the mid-season berries approach maturity.
Companion Planting
Blueberries share specific cultural needs that make companion selection straightforward. The most effective companions for Vaccinium corymbosum ‘Atlantic’ are other acid-loving plants within the Ericaceae family. Incorporate Azaleas and Rhododendrons near your Highbush blueberry hedges; they thrive in the same highly acidic, moist soil structure, creating a cohesive, low-pH planting area.
When selecting groundcovers, companion planting with mosses or low-growing acid-tolerant shrubs can help maintain soil moisture and temperature stability around the shallow root systems typical of blueberries. Avoid planting heavy feeders or alkaline-loving herbs nearby, as they will compete for resources or negatively alter the soil chemistry required by the Vaccinium corymbosum ‘Atlantic’.
Furthermore, utilizing species that offer slight shade during the hottest part of the afternoon can benefit the plant in hotter zones within its range, though full morning sun remains optimal for heavy berry production on the Highbush blueberry.
Seasonal Care Calendar
Spring is vital for setting up the year’s harvest; apply balanced, acidifying fertilizer early in the season before new growth begins and conduct the majority of your pruning once dormancy is confirmed. As May approaches, monitor the delicate white blooms, recognizing that successful pollination is key to future fruit.
Summer is dedicated to fruit development and pest management; ensure consistent watering, especially as the fruit swells in July—this is when netting must be deployed to protect the harvest from birds. Keep weed competition low, as blueberries have shallow roots vulnerable to damage from aggressive tilling or cultivation near the base.
In autumn, enjoy the spectacular coppery red foliage display of the Vaccinium corymbosum ‘Atlantic’ as the leaves senesce. Once leaves drop, a final inspection can address any remaining diseased canes before deep winter sets in. Minimal intervention is needed in winter beyond protecting young plants from animal browsing, awaiting the dormancy period required for next spring’s flower bud formation.
