Blueberry (Vaccinium 'Pink Lemonade')
Discover Vaccinium 'Pink Lemonade' Blueberry, notable for its pink fruit and low chill requirement. Grow this ornamental fruit producer in USDA Zones 4-9.
Complete Plant Information
Overview
Vaccinium ‘Pink Lemonade’ is a fascinating cultivar that brings both ornamental appeal and surprising fruit production to the garden. Unlike traditional blue varieties, this unique Blueberry produces berries that transition from pale green to a distinctive bright pink when fully ripe, offering a sweet, novel taste reportedly twice as sweet as standard blueberries. This adaptation makes the Vaccinium ‘Pink Lemonade’ an excellent choice for gardeners in milder regions due to its relatively low chilling requirement of only 300 hours below 45°F.
As a compact shrub maturing around 4 to 5 feet tall and wide, it functions beautifully as an edible accent or a low hedge. Beyond the colorful fruit, the plant provides excellent seasonal interest, boasting white spring flowers, glossy summer foliage, and rich fall color that shifts to deep burgundy. Growing the Vaccinium ‘Pink Lemonade’ ensures you have a functional, aesthetically pleasing addition to any acidic landscape.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Ericaceae
- Plant Type: Fruit
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 4-9
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 4-5 ft
- Spread: 4-5 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 this Blueberry variety requires strict attention to soil composition, as all Vaccinium species thrive in highly acidic conditions. Aim for a pH between 4.0 and 5.2, incorporating plenty of peat moss or other aged organic matter to create peaty, rich, well-drained soil. While full sun yields the best fruit production, Vaccinium ‘Pink Lemonade’ tolerates part shade. It is vital to remember that the shallow, fibrous roots demand consistent moisture but absolutely require good drainage; never let them sit in soggy conditions.
Maintain adequate moisture using a thick layer of organic mulch, which helps conserve coolness and moisture around the roots. Although this Blueberry cultivar is self-fertile, planting another compatible variety nearby will encourage cross-pollination, leading to significantly larger berries and higher yields. To prioritize strong vegetative growth in the first two years, remove all flower buds immediately upon appearance, allowing the plant to establish its structure before setting fruit.
Pruning for older wood should be performed in late winter, starting in the third year after planting. This encourages new, vigorous growth necessary for future fruit production. Consistent watering is key, especially during fruit development in mid to late summer, as the plant prefers medium to wet conditions.
Landscape Uses
The ornamental qualities of Vaccinium ‘Pink Lemonade’ make it highly versatile for landscape design. Its attractive form is perfect for defining shrub borders or softening the edge of woodland plantings, especially when situated alongside other acid-loving taxa like rhododendrons and azaleas, which share similar soil needs. The combination of spring flowers, summer fruit, and brilliant fall foliage ensures visual interest across multiple seasons.
For edible landscapes, this plant excels as an excellent, functional low hedge. You can harvest the unique pink blueberries, or leave a portion on the bush later in the season for the birds. Consider planting early, mid-season, and late-ripening varieties together to extend your harvest window from early June straight through to October.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Showy
Fruit Qualities
- Showy
- Edible
Noteworthy Characteristics
The ‘Pink Lemonade’ Blueberry was developed by Mark K. Ehlenfeldt and is unique for having pink fruit rather than the traditional blue. It requires fewer winter chill hours (300) than many standard Blueberries, broadening its potential growing range. The bush offers four-season appeal with pinkish-white flowers, pink ripe fruit, glossy foliage turning orange/burgundy, and reddish-brown twigs in winter.
Tolerances
No specific abiotic tolerances were listed separately.
Potential Problems
While generally robust, the primary threat to the ripening crop of Vaccinium ‘Pink Lemonade’ often comes from birds, necessitating protective netting as the pink fruit matures. Soil chemistry is critical; high pH soils (alkaline) will induce chlorosis, causing the leaves to turn yellow due to nutrient lockout.
Fungal and pest issues are infrequent but can include stem blight, cane cankers, root rot, mildew, and anthracnose. Occasionally, pests like the cherry fruit worm or blueberry maggot may attack the developing fruit clusters. Preventative cultural care, focusing on ensuring high acidity and excellent air circulation, minimizes the risk of these fungal problems significantly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Blueberry (Vaccinium ‘Pink Lemonade’) suitable for?
This particular Blueberry cultivar, Vaccinium ‘Pink Lemonade’, is suitable for growing in USDA Zones 4 through 9.
How large does Vaccinium ‘Pink Lemonade’ grow?
This shrub typically matures to a height between 4 and 5 feet, with an equal spread of 4 to 5 feet wide.
When does Blueberry (Vaccinium ‘Pink Lemonade’) bloom?
The plant usually produces its white, bell-shaped flowers in May, leading to the unique pink fruit later in the summer.
What sun exposure does Vaccinium ‘Pink Lemonade’ need?
For optimal health and fruit production, this Blueberry requires full sun exposure, though it can tolerate a location that receives part shade.
Conclusion
The Vaccinium ‘Pink Lemonade’ offers gardeners a truly special combination of ornamental beauty and delicious, unusual pink-hued fruit, making it a standout choice even in milder climates due to low chill requirements. Successfully growing this Blueberry depends heavily on maintaining highly acidic, moist, well-drained soil. Check your soil pH early and plan your location soon to enjoy the harvest from your new Vaccinium ‘Pink Lemonade’ next season.
Companion Planting
Selecting companions that share the need for highly acidic soil dramatically simplifies long-term landscape management around your Blueberry plants. Rhododendrons, Azaleas, and Camellias are classic partners, as they thrive in the same low pH environment that the Vaccinium ‘Pink Lemonade’ demands. These plants also tend to have similar moderate water requirements, ensuring that irrigation schedules benefit the entire grouping simultaneously.
Consider using low-growing, acid-tolerant groundcovers beneath the shrubs, such as creeping Spirea or certain types of heather, to help shade the shallow roots and further retain soil moisture. Avoid planting heavy feeders nearby that might compete too aggressively for the rich, organic matter essential to robust Blueberry health.
Seasonal Care Calendar
Spring is the crucial time for preparing your Vaccinium ‘Pink Lemonade’ for a productive season. Apply a fresh layer of organic mulch if needed, and if your soil pH tested high the previous fall, apply an acidifying treatment like elemental sulfur well ahead of the growing season. Once flowering begins in May, ensure consistent moisture, especially if you are in a drier region.
Summer care focuses primarily on fruit protection and hydration; continue to monitor soil moisture saturation as the pink berries swell through mid to late summer. Bird netting may be necessary before the fruit turns fully pink. In late summer or very early fall, remove any remaining flower clusters or late-setting fruit to direct energy back into root systems before dormancy.
As leaves begin to turn vivid orange and burgundy in autumn, cease heavy fertilization. Late winter, before new growth emerges, is the proper time to execute any necessary structural pruning on older canes, ensuring the plant directs its energy toward new fruiting wood for the subsequent year.
