Vaccinium corymbosum 'Biloxi' ~ Biloxi Highbush Blueberry

Biloxi Highbush Blueberry is a bushy upright spreading deciduous shrub with little to no chill requirement and heavy production of very firm, distinctly flavored sweet light blue blueberries that flower and ripen early.   The elliptical blue-green foliage turns shades of glossy red in fall. Grows best with full sun and rich, moist acidic well-drained soils.  Biloxi can be evergreen and produce a second crop in warmer climates (zone 9-10).  Biloxi is disease resistant.  While it can self fruit Biloxi should be planted with others to cross-pollinate to increase yield. 

Vaccinium corymbosum are highly valuable for wildlife as well, being listed as a host plant for 32 different butterflies and moths, and provides nectar to several specialized bees.  The berries and branches are good food sources for birds and mammals. 

MAINTENANCE NEEDS:  Medium Maintenance. Water regularly and mulch.  Prune as needed in late winter. Chlorosis may occur in high PH soils.  Blight, rot, anthracnose, canker, and mildew are occasional problems. Blueberry maggot, fruit worms, and spotted wing drosophila can damage the fruit.  Mummy berry is a fungal disease that shrivels and dries the fruit- remove effected fruit immediately if spotted.
LANDSCAPE USES:  Accents or Group Plantings, Borders, Naturalized Areas, Woodland Gardens, Rock Gardens, Hedges, Foundation Plantings, Edible Gardens, and Containers.

COMPANION PLANTS: California Lilac, Raspberry, Azalea

Image: Photo by Bottoms Nursery, Biloxi Blueberry