Johnblue

Releasing Organization: NCSU
Release Year: 1977
Breeder’s Team: James Ballington/ Gene Galleta
Johnblue, is among the best adapted of a series of evergreen, low-growing, small blue-fruited blueberry selections of the diploid specie Vaccinium darrowii Camp evaluated in North Carolina. It was selected to complement azaleas and camellias in landscape plantings. Johnblue also shows potential for indoor culture as pot plants or in hanging baskets.
Johnblue is an open-pollinated seedling from seed collected in north-central Florida. It was selected at Castle Hayne, N. C. by G. J. Galletta and T. F. Cannon in 1972 and evaluated by G. J. Galletta, A. D. Draper, and J. R. Ballington from 1972-1979.
The new foliage of Johnblue is an attractive blue-green and the foliage takes on a light pinkish hue during the fall and winter. The stems also turn reddish in the fall and winter. The fruit is small, sweet, flavorful, light blue in color and will attract birds. The plant shape is generally a low rounded mound.
JOHNBLUE will eventually reach a mature height of 3 feet in eastern North Carolina,
Johnblue performs well as specimen plants or hedges. For best results outdoors additional organic matter will have to be added to the planting hole, as in azalea and camellia culture.