Large light-blue berry
A strong natural bloom creates bright blue colour and helps the berry remain firm.
1
Vaccinium corymbosum ‘Bluecrop’ 13cm
Normal price
€11,90
What does the legal guarantee mean for plants?
The legal guarantee concerns the plant’s conformity at delivery. It is not a guarantee of survival or growth for two years. Each issue is assessed taking into account the nature of the plant, its care and the conditions in which it is kept. Your statutory rights remain unaffected.
Vaccinium corymbosum ‘Bluecrop’
The king of blueberries — flavour, cropping and autumn colour that never goes unnoticed 🫐
- Large light-blue berries
- Sweet balanced flavour
- Upright open shrub
- Vivid red autumn colour
Vaccinium corymbosum ‘Bluecrop’ is the benchmark cultivar for anyone wanting a substantial handsome blueberry with genuinely enjoyable fruit. Generous light-blue berries balance sweetness with lively acidity, taste excellent fresh and hold well for baking or freezing. The strong open shrub fills with white spring blossom and finishes the season in striking red foliage, bringing beauty long before and well after harvest. It is a dependable centrepiece for an acidic fruit bed or a large terrace container. Small fruit clusters give rhythm to the crown, with blue and still-unripe berries appearing together as ripening progresses.
‘Bluecrop’ deserves a position where it remains visible after harvest. White spring bells, blue berries and red autumn foliage create successive displays, connecting the fruit border with the ornamental garden.
What makes it special
‘Bluecrop’ earned its classic status by balancing fruit, resilience and handsome form without compromise.
Versatile flavour
Balanced sweet acidity suits fresh picking, pies, preserves and freezing.
A strong garden presence
White blossom, dense summer green and glowing red autumn foliage provide lasting presence.
Why you will love it: It is the quality choice when you want classic blue fruit, a handsome large shrub and exceptional usefulness in the kitchen.
In the garden & on the terracePositioning & plant combinationsA spacious acidic bed or large container with sun, cool roots and air around the crown.
Ideal position
Plant in sun for rich flavour, adding light afternoon shade only in very hot regions. Allow approximately 1.2–1.5m from the next large shrub.
Compatible combinations
Evergreen acid-loving shrubs and low woodland groundcover frame the open crown without hiding the fruit.
- Rhododendron yakushimanum — Compact evergreen foliage and spring flowers form a lasting backdrop.
- Skimmia japonica — Fragrant flowers and winter structure fill the lower layer in bright partial shade.
- Cornus canadensis — Low woodland groundcover with white bracts keeps the foreground cool.
Care at a glance
Light
Sun or bright partial shade; full sun strengthens flavour and autumn colour.
Water
Even moisture with low-mineral water, without waterlogging.
Climate & hardiness
Excellent winter hardiness for a highbush blueberry, with root protection in containers.
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
Retain 7–9 stems of mixed ages with an open centre. Remove low branches touching the ground.
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
Keep pH acidic, water with low-mineral water and thin only where density prevents quick drying.
From flower to basketFruiting & harvestSimple guidance on pollination, ripening, picking and protecting the crop.
Pollination
It is self-fertile and crops alone. Another highbush cultivar of the same season often increases berry size and uniformity.
When it ripens
It ripens in mid-season, usually over several pickings during July, depending on climate.
How to harvest
Wait until the whole berry is light blue, then allow a few more days for sweetness. A ripe berry drops easily into the palm.
Fruit protection
Install netting before the first berries turn blue and secure it to a frame away from the crown.
After planting: water deeply, cover the surface with pine bark and remove only broken wood.
Clear pruning planHow to prune this fruiting plantLate winter, before buds swell
When to prune
Prune ‘Bluecrop’ towards the end of winter while the bush is dormant and before its buds swell. Without leaves, the framework is clearly visible and old, weak or crossing branches are easier to identify. Renew the bush gradually, retaining strong younger growth. Avoid shortening every tip to the same height, because many of the next crop’s flower buds are carried there.
‘Bluecrop’ fruits on short laterals carried by younger wood. Build an open shrub, thin rubbing branches and on a mature plant gradually remove the oldest stems at the base.
01
Build
Strong framework
Action: Remove only very weak or broken basal growth.
Retain: Retain 5–7 upright stems and every healthy tip.
02
Train
Light for berries
Action: Remove one crossing and one very low branch at their origin.
Retain: Retain short productive laterals on younger wood.
03
Renew
Basal renewal
Action: Remove one or two of the oldest thick stems low down.
Retain: Retain strong new basal shoots to replace them.
New / productive — retainOld or exhausted woodCut point
Clean tools
Use sharp, clean tools suited to the diameter of the wood.
Balanced ages
Aim for an open shrub containing young, middle-aged and a few older productive stems.
Do not do this: Do not cut every tip to the same height; many flower buds for the next crop are carried there.
Development over timeHow the plant developsA realistic path from establishment to mature form.
Building the framework
Upright stems strengthen the crown and gradually open outwards.
Productive laterals
Short shoots on younger wood fill with flowers and light-blue berries.
Mature renewal
New basal stems gradually replace older branches and keep the shrub open.
Mature habit & dimensions
Mature form in 4–6 yearsHeight 1.5–1.8mSpread 1.2–1.5mUpright open large shrub
Distinct basal stems, leafy side shoots and fruit attached to the branching framework.
Form through the seasons
Spring blossom · mid-season harvestTetraploid highbushClassic 1952 releaseFruit on younger wood
Spring flowering
Small flowers appear on short side shoots of the woody framework.
Summer fruit
Fruit develops on side shoots among the leaves.
The two views follow the same natural growth cycle.
What to expect after planting: Upright stems strengthen the crown and gradually open outwards.
History & originCultivar originThe story behind its distinctive character.
‘Bluecrop’ entered cultivation in 1952 through cooperation between the USDA and the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station in the United States. It belongs to the generation of northern highbush blueberries that helped spread large cultivated fruit. Its light-blue colour and balanced flavour became part of that history.
Over the years, ‘Bluecrop’ gained a place as a reference cultivar in both commercial plantings and home gardens. Mid-season ripening and consistent cropping are complemented by the shrub’s ornamental cycle. A selection with decades of history thus continues to offer summer fruit alongside white spring flowers and red autumn foliage.
Greenleaf for Plant NerdsScientific details nobody asked forBotanical detail behind the plant's appearance and behaviour
The little crown is a remnant of the flower
The little crown at the end of a blueberry is formed by the flower’s calyx, which remains as the fruit enlarges. The berry develops from an inferior ovary, positioned below the other main floral parts. The crown therefore sits opposite the stalk, preserving a trace of the earlier flower on the ripe berry.
The flower buds are already prepared
By late winter the bush already carries buds that will produce its spring flowers. Flower buds are usually plumper and rounder than narrow, pointed growth buds and occur towards the ends of the previous season’s shoots. Spring flowering therefore does not begin from nothing alongside the new leaves; it continues a developmental process that started earlier.
Frequently asked questions
Six practical answers for choosing, growing, harvesting and pruning this exact cultivar.
01Does it need another plant?
It is self-fertile and crops alone. Another highbush cultivar of the same season often increases berry size and uniformity.
02How large does it become?
1.5–1.8m high and approximately 1.2–1.5m wide, with the habit described above.
03Is it suitable for a container?
Yes, in a container of at least 50–60 litres with ericaceous compost, a broad base and consistent watering.
04When is the fruit picked?
Usually during July, over several pickings once berries are fully blue and fall easily into the palm.
05Why is the berry dusted white?
It is a natural waxy coating that protects the fruit. An intact bloom shows careful handling.
06When should it be pruned?
In late winter, removing crossing branches and gradually renewing the oldest stems at the base.
📦 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.