Investigations to Determine the Ornamental Quality of Selected Rabbiteye Blueberry Cultivars for Their Utilization As Functional Landscape

Rabbiteye blueberries (Vaccinium ashei Reade) are the primary blueberry species produced in Alabama.  Selected well-established and newly released rabbiteye cultivars including ‘Alapaha', 'Baldwin', 'Brightwell', 'Climax', 'Ira', 'Montgomery', 'Onslow', 'Powderblue', ' Premier', 'Tifblue', and 'Yadkin' were studied at the North Alabama Horticulture Research Center, Cullman, AL (lat. 34° 11' N, long. -86° 47' E; USDA Hardiness Zone 7B)  to evaluate their ornamental qualities for use as functional landscape plants by analyzing berry skin color, cultivar summer and fall foliage color, and bush form.  The results of our study suggest ‘Alapaha’ and ‘Yadkin’ had long lasting red fall foliage, with ‘Yadkin’ displaying a lighter, more intense fall color and ‘Alapaha’ having duller and darker fall foliage.  ‘Ira’ and ‘Premier’ were found to have intense, long lasting yellow fall color.  ‘Powderblue’ had the most waxy and attractive summer foliage and fruit appearance.  The growth habit of all studied cultivars tended to be upright, with ‘Alapaha’ and ‘Onslow’ expressing the most upright plant growth habit.