Premier Blueberry Bush

Light Needs

Partial Shade to Partial Sun

(3 - 6 Hours Of Direct Sunlight)

Mature Height

6-10 Feet

Mature Spread

6-8 Feet

Growing Zones

7 to 10

Blueberries are a healthy food high in antioxidants, and once you plant the Premier Blueberry Bush in your yard, this is a tasty treat you can easily enjoy. The Vaccinium ashei 'Premier' is a Rabbiteye variety of blueberry. This plant is low-maintenance and, once mature, can produce up to 15 pounds of blueberries during a season. White and pink bell-shaped flowers cover the plant during the early spring, and by late spring to early summer, the plant will be covered in large, dark blue fruit. The Premier Blueberry Bush grows as a perennial in USDA zones 7 through 10.

This heat-tolerant variety produces flavorful berries while also adding greenery to a space. Blueberries plants need to be cross-pollinated by other varieties, so use this plant in a row or hedge with at least 2 different types of blueberries. This deciduous plant will lose its silvery green foliage during the winter when it is dormant. New leaves emerge in the spring shortly before the blooms.

Premier Blueberry Bush Plant Care

Full sun and rich soil are necessary to grow a healthy blueberry plant. Soil should be high in organic content and have a 4.5 to 5.2 pH. This plant has medium water needs, so let the top few inches of soil dry out before giving the plant a drink. Apply a thick layer of mulch starting at the base of the plant and extending a few feet out to retain water. Blueberry plants can be fertilized using a slow-release acidic fertilizer during their second growing season. Feed the plant during the early spring and again during late spring.

Thin out lower branches that can become weighed down when covered in ripe berries because these berries may touch the ground. The plant may push out shoots, which steal energy away from the main plant, so they can be removed as they appear. Prune the plant to clean it up and remove dead or damaged growth while the plant is dormant.

Premier Blueberry Bush Plant Spacing

Give this bush room to grow because it is a large plant. The Premier Blueberry Bush can be 6 to 10 feet tall and 6 to 8 feet wide. Blueberry bushes can be planted as close as 6 feet apart to create a hedgerow. Space the plants 10 to 12 feet apart to keep them close enough for pollinators to visit both plants while still allowing enough space for you to walk around the plant while picking berries.