Two waves of fruit
A main mid-July–August harvest and a smaller second crop from mid-September into early October.
3
Vaccinium ‘Hortblue Petite’ 17cm
Normal price
€18,00
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Vaccinium ‘Hortblue Petite’
Double flowering, double delight 🫐🫐
- Two harvest periods
- Compact well-branched habit
- Dark aromatic berries
- Very good winter hardiness
Vaccinium ‘Hortblue Petite’ hides a pleasant surprise behind its neat appearance: after the main harvest, it can return with fresh flowers and a second flush of fruit. The small, dark-blue berries have a rich flavour that brings something special to breakfast or a handful of freshly picked fruit. Slender branching and lively foliage remain attractive between harvests. The possibility of another autumn picking makes this blueberry a particularly rewarding plant to follow through the season.
Its low, well-branched form works as a small ornamental shrub in a terrace arrangement or at the front of an acidic border. Fine branches sit comfortably beside the light foliage of ornamental grasses, allowing the dark berries to stand out when enjoyed close by.
What makes it special
‘Hortblue Petite’ is more than compact; its unusual ability to flower again meaningfully extends the season.
Dense container habit
Many short branches create a balanced crown without the height of a classic highbush cultivar.
Aromatic dark fruit
Berries are deep blue with lively acidity and more intense aroma at full ripeness.
Why you will love it: It extends the pleasure of harvest and remains compact enough to live comfortably near the kitchen.
In the garden & on the terracePositioning & plant combinationsA large container in morning sun, ericaceous compost and easy access for two picking periods.
Ideal position
Place in sun or bright partial shade, with afternoon protection in hot climates. The autumn crop benefits from a bright sheltered position.
Compatible combinations
A dwarf rhododendron, flowing grass and low violet frame the container without repeating colours.
- Rhododendron impeditum — Purple spring flowers and low evergreen form enjoy the same acidic soil.
- Hakonechloa macra — Golden-green arching blades brighten the crown in morning sun.
- Viola labradorica — Purple foliage and small flowers create a low edge without blocking air.
Care at a glance
Light
Sun or bright partial shade; the second crop needs a bright sheltered autumn.
Water
Even moisture with low-mineral water, without waterlogging.
Climate & hardiness
Very good winter hardiness; protect container roots from prolonged deep freezing.
Safety
Wash fully ripe fruit before eating.
Detailed careComplete care guideSoil, watering, support, feeding and cultivar-specific prevention.
Acid soil
Plant only in ericaceous compost at about pH 4.5–5.5. In lime-rich ground, use a large container so roots remain in the correct conditions.
Watering
Water as the surface begins to dry, preferably with rainwater or another low-mineral source. Never allow the root ball to dry completely.
Shape & airflow
Maintain 5–7 well-spaced branches and an open centre. No support is needed in a stable broad container.
Feeding
In spring use an ericaceous feed according to its label. Small regular doses are safer than one heavy application.
Summer care
Keep roots cool with pine bark and protect the container from fierce reflected heat. Foliage needs light, while roots must not overheat.
Prevent problems
Do not prune after the first crop, maintain even moisture in August and protect later flowers from dry wind.
From flower to basketFruiting & harvestSimple guidance on pollination, ripening, picking and protecting the crop.
Pollination
It crops alone, but another tetraploid highbush cultivar flowering at the same time improves the first crop especially.
When it ripens
The first crop ripens mid-July to mid-August and the second from mid-September into early October.
How to harvest
Pick when dark berries are blue to the stalk and release easily. Check the second crop frequently before cold nights.
Fruit protection
Use removable netting on a light frame so it opens easily during both harvest periods.
After planting: maintain acidic evenly moist compost and allow the dense crown to establish without tipping.
Clear pruning planHow to prune this fruiting plantLate winter, before the first flowering
When to prune
Late winter, before the first flowering
‘Hortblue Petite’ needs light thinning, not summer pruning. Retain younger productive wood, open a small central gap and do not touch tips after the first crop, where new flowers may appear.
01
Build
Compact framework
Action: Remove only a broken or very weak branch.
Retain: Retain every healthy short branch and its tips.
02
Train
Air in the centre
Action: Cut one rubbing internal branch and one touching the soil.
Retain: Retain 5–7 well-spaced productive branches.
03
Renew
Renewal without losing the second crop
Action: Remove one old branch at the base only in winter.
Retain: Retain every healthy tip from spring through autumn.
New / productive — retainOld or exhausted woodCut point
Clean tools
Use sharp, clean tools suited to the diameter of the wood.
After the first harvest
Water, feed lightly if needed and leave the crown uncut for possible second flowering.
Do not do this: Do not tidy the plant in August; this removes tips capable of producing the second flush.
Development over timeHow the plant developsA realistic path from establishment to mature form.
Dense branching
Many short branches build a compact shrub without long bare stems.
First wave
Spring flowers produce dark berries in midsummer.
Second return
New flower buds can produce a smaller flush in early autumn.
Mature habit & dimensions
Mature formHeight 0.8–1mSpread 0.7–0.9mCompact well-branched shrub
‘Hortblue Petite’ forms a low, well-branched shrub with small leaves along short side shoots. Dark berries hang in small clusters, easily enjoyed close by.
Form through the seasons
First crop July–August · second in SeptemberTetraploidNew ZealandTwo flowering waves
Main harvestDark-blue berries ripen in small clusters among the short, leafy branches.
Repeat floweringFresh hanging flowers and fewer berries may appear together later at the ends of the shoots.
Repeat flowering is unusual in blueberries and is strongly influenced by light, temperature and available moisture.
What to expect after planting: Many short branches build a compact shrub without long bare stems.
History & originCultivar originA HortResearch selection from New Zealand, available to home gardeners since 2005.
‘Hortblue Petite’ emerged from the HortResearch programme in New Zealand as blueberries were gaining a place in ornamental gardens. It was selected from open-pollinated seed of a dwarf, tetraploid Vaccinium corymbosum: the maternal line was known, but the pollen parent had not been chosen through a controlled cross.
Trials in New Zealand and Germany highlighted its low stature and small, dark fruit. The cultivar reached New Zealand retail in 2005, bringing ornamental appeal and home-grown fruit together in one plant.
In 2009, Jessica Scalzo and colleagues presented the cultivar in a scientific publication alongside ‘Hortblue Onyx’. Its capacity to flower again within the growing season remains one of its most interesting features, with a second harvest possible when conditions allow.
Greenleaf for Plant NerdsScientific details nobody asked forBotanical detail behind the plant's appearance and behaviour
A chemical addition to anthocyanins
The enzyme VcAAT1a has been studied in ‘Hortblue Petite’. It adds acetyl groups to the sugars of certain anthocyanins, producing modified pigments with enhanced stability.
Tetraploid pollination
The cultivar belongs to the tetraploid highbush blueberry group. Pollen from compatible cultivars affects the number of seeds developing inside a berry and can increase its size.
Frequently asked questions
Six practical answers for choosing, growing, harvesting and pruning this exact cultivar.
01Does it need another plant?
It crops alone, but another tetraploid highbush cultivar flowering at the same time improves the first crop especially.
02How large does it become?
0.8–1m high and approximately 0.7–0.9m wide, with the habit described above.
03Is it suitable for a container?
Yes, in a 35–45-litre container with ericaceous compost, a bright position and steady moisture into autumn.
04When is the fruit picked?
Mid-July–August and again mid-September–early October when a second flush forms.
05Will it always make two crops?
The cultivar has this ability, but the second crop depends on light, warmth, moisture and the length of autumn.
06When should it be pruned?
In late winter. Do not cut tips after the first harvest because the second crop may form there.
📦 Your plant travels protected
Every order is prepared with care so your plant arrives upright, secure and safe.
Individual protection
Plants in pots with a capacity of 3 litres or more are placed in individual boxes that hold the pot securely and reduce the risk of tipping over.
Sturdy packaging
We use reinforced cardboard designed to protect against impacts and vibration during transport.