Burgundy Blueberry

Burgundy Blueberry is a selected cultivar of Vaccinium angustifolium, the wild lowbush blueberry native to northeastern North America from Labrador south through the Appalachians. Lowbush blueberries have sustained Indigenous communities and supported wildlife across the boreal and sub-boreal landscape for millennia; commercial wild-blueberry operations in Maine and Atlantic Canada today are still largely managed stands of native clones harvested by raking. Burgundy is not a product of a formal institutional breeding program — it is a named selection from naturally occurring lowbush populations distinguished by its autumn color display and fruit character. No release year or documented parentage cross exists. The cultivar name references both the deep burgundy-red of its fall foliage and the blue-black fruit that can show wine-red tones when backlit, giving the plant dual ornamental value across the growing season.

Burgundy Blueberry demands strongly acidic soil in the pH 4.5–5.0 range—the single most critical cultural requirement. Before planting, amend beds with sulfur or acidic peat to hit the target range and retest annually; soil pH above 5.5 triggers iron chlorosis and suppresses growth. Plant in full sun to partial shade with well-drained soil rich in organic matter; lowbush types tolerate coarser, leaner soils than highbush relatives. Apply a 3–4-inch layer of pine bark or woodchip mulch to conserve moisture, suppress weeds, and maintain surface acidity. Water consistently during fruit development, especially in sandy soils. Fertilize sparingly with an acid-formulated organic fertilizer (e.g., cottonseed meal or sulfur-coated urea) in early spring; avoid over-fertilizing, which promotes leafy growth at the expense of fruit. Burgundy spreads slowly by underground rhizomes, gradually forming a dense patch. Prune lightly every 2–3 years by cutting older canes to ground level to rejuvenate production.

USDA Hardiness Zone: 2-7
AHS Heat Zone: 1-6
Chill Hours: 800-1000
Sun Requirements: Full Sun
Soil pH: 4.5-5.0
Soil Type: Acidic, sandy loam high in organic matter
Soil Drainage: Well-drained (excellent drainage required; intolerant of waterlogging)
Water Requirements: Medium (consistent, even moisture; shallow-rooted and intolerant of both drought and waterlogging)
Drought Tolerance: Moderate; tolerates drought once established
Plant Spacing: 2-3 ft on center
Container Suitability: Yes (minimum 24 in diameter container)
How to Prune: Shear to 1-inch height every 2-3 years OR burn (in wild settings) to stimulate vigorous new fruiting canes; approximately 70% of biomass is underground so plants regenerate vigorously

Burgundy Blueberry is a compact, multi-stemmed deciduous shrub reaching 6 feet tall and 6 feet wide at full maturity, though most plants remain under 3 feet in garden settings where regular light pruning is practiced. The slow-to-moderate growth rate suits it to permanent edible landscape beds where it will naturalize over time. Narrow lance-shaped leaves emerge bright green in spring, turn glossy mid-green through summer, and shift to a vivid burgundy-red in autumn—one of the most ornamental fall displays among blueberry species. Deciduous habit means the plant is fully dormant through winter, emerging reliably even after severe cold. Hardy from USDA Zone 2 through 8, Burgundy is among the most cold-tolerant blueberry options available. Low salt tolerance means it should be sited away from roadsides treated with deicing salts. Moderate wind tolerance and a rhizomatous spreading habit make it useful for slope stabilization and ground-layer coverage in naturalistic designs.

Mature Height: 6 ft tall
Mature Spread: 6 ft wide
Growth Habit: Creeping groundcover; spreads by rhizomes forming irregular colonies
Growth Rate: Slow to Moderate
Foliage Type: Deciduous
Food Forest Layer: Groundcover
Permaculture Role: Edible fruit shrub; pollinator nectar source; wildlife food (berries) and habitat
Leaf Color: Green
Fall Foliage Color: Maroon to deep burgundy-purple in fall
Thorns?: No
Attracts Wildlife: Flowers attract bumblebees, native bees, and honey bees; ripe berries attract songbirds and small mammals
Life Span: Long-lived perennial; colonies can persist for decades

Burgundy Blueberry is partially self-fertile: isolated plants produce some fruit, but berry set and yield improve meaningfully with a second lowbush clone nearby. Brunswick Blueberry or any wild Vaccinium angustifolium selection makes an ideal cross-pollination partner, as bloom timing aligns closely. Flowers open in spring—typically April through May across Zones 4–6, and into May in cooler climates—as small white urn-shaped blossoms that are attractive to native bumblebees and honeybees. Because lowbush flowers require buzz-pollination to release pollen most efficiently, native bumblebees are especially effective partners. Planting two or more lowbush clones within 50 feet of each other reliably increases fruit load. Bloom season is classified as late relative to other blueberry types, reducing frost risk in northern gardens.

Pollination Requirements: Partially self-fertile; cross-pollination with another lowbush variety significantly increases yield
Pollination Mechanism: Insect-pollinated (buzz/sonication pollination by bumblebees and native bees; honey bees also forage)
Flower Color: White, tinged with pink; bell/urn-shaped
Ploidy: Diploid (2n=24)

Burgundy Blueberry produces small, round berries measuring approximately 0.5 inch in diameter—noticeably smaller than highbush cultivars but carrying a sweeter, more concentrated wild flavor that many growers consider superior for culinary use. Ripe fruit is deep blue to blue-black with a natural waxy bloom. Harvest runs mid-summer, from July into August depending on climate and elevation. The intensely sweet berries with a true wild-blueberry taste shine fresh off the plant, in jams and preserves, baked into muffins and pies, or dried for trail mix. Nutritionally, wild-type lowbush berries are consistently high in anthocyanins relative to their cultivated highbush counterparts. Wildlife—including songbirds, small mammals, bees, and butterflies—readily harvest any fruit not picked promptly, making Burgundy both a productive food crop and a habitat plant in one. The shrub is well-suited to containers of at least 24 inches in diameter, making it an option for patios and decks where in-ground planting is not possible.

Fruit Size: 0.5 inch
Flavor: Sweet, smaller and sweeter than highbush; concentrated wild flavor
Fruit Color: Deep blue to blue-black when ripe
Fruit Texture: Firm
Bearing Habit: Annual bearer on current-season wood; biennial management cycle (shear every 3 years recommended)
Years to Bear: 1-2 years after planting
Culinary Uses: Fresh eating, baking, jams, jellies, preserves, dried (like raisins), frozen; leaf tea

Cultural sanitation is the foundation of disease management for Burgundy, where Mummy Berry (Monilinia vaccinii-corymbosi) is the most damaging fungal disease of lowbush blueberries in humid regions; rake and destroy infected mummified fruit and apply deep mulch to break the spore cycle. Botryosphaeria Stem Blight (Botryosphaeria dothidea) enters through wounds and drought-stressed tissue—avoid mechanical injury and maintain consistent moisture. Anthracnose Fruit Rot (Colletotrichum acutatum) develops in warm, wet harvest weather; harvest promptly and avoid overhead irrigation during ripening. Phytophthora Root Rot (Phytophthora cinnamomi) is lethal in waterlogged sites; ensure drainage is excellent before planting. Septoria Leaf Spot (Septoria albopunctata) causes mid-season defoliation in dense plantings; improve airflow with light pruning. For pests, fine-mesh netting is a reliable physical barrier against Spotted Wing Drosophila (Drosophila suzukii) and Blueberry Maggot (Rhagoletis mendax) as berries ripen. Monitor for Cranberry Fruitworm (Acrobasis vaccinii) larvae inside berries during summer, and inspect soil around plant bases for Plum Curculio (Conotrachelus nenuphar) activity. Healthy, well-fed plants in well-drained, properly acidified soil show the strongest natural resilience across all these threats.

Mummy Berry: Moderately Susceptible
Botryosphaeria Stem Blight: Moderately Resistant
Anthracnose Fruit Rot: Moderately Susceptible
Phytophthora Root Rot: Moderately Resistant
Septoria Leaf Spot: Moderately Susceptible
Spotted Wing Drosophila: Moderately Susceptible
Blueberry Maggot: Moderately Susceptible
Cranberry Fruitworm: Moderately Susceptible
Plum Curculio: Moderately Susceptible

• Nail the pH first: Test and amend to pH 4.5–5.0 before planting. Lowbush blueberries cannot access iron or manganese above pH 5.5, leading to chlorosis regardless of other inputs. Retest annually.
• Pair with a second clone: Plant Brunswick Blueberry or another lowbush selection within 50 feet. Even partially self-fertile plants produce noticeably heavier crops with a compatible neighbor in bloom simultaneously.
• Net before berries color: Spotted Wing Drosophila and Blueberry Maggot attack ripening fruit rapidly. Drape fine-mesh netting (1–1.5 mm) over plants as berries begin to show color.
• Mulch consistently: A 3–4 inch layer of pine bark or wood chips moderates temperature, conserves moisture, and slowly acidifies the soil surface as it breaks down.
• Rejuvenate every few years: Cut one-third of the oldest canes to ground level every 2–3 years in early spring. New rhizome shoots carry the heaviest fruit loads.

Our 365-Day Plant Guarantee: We ensure that our plants are delivered to you alive and healthy. If your plant does not survive its first year, you're eligible for store credit under these conditions:

1. Your location falls within the appropriate USDA hardiness zone for the plant variety (refer to our hardiness zone map).
2. You maintain the roots' moisture and plant within three days of delivery, following the instructions in our Planting Guide.

If you're concerned about your plant's health, please consult our guide, How to Tell if Your Tree is Dead or Dormant. Remember, our plants are shipped in a dormant state and may leaf out at different times based on their species. To check for plant vital