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Pink Lemonade Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum x ashei ‘Pink Lemonade’) is a highbush-rabbiteye hybrid blueberry that ripens to a distinctive bright rosy-pink — the color comes from reduced anthocyanin pigmentation — with mild, sweet fruit carrying subtle floral notes. It grows in USDA hardiness zones 5-9 and AHS heat zones 6-9, needs 200-300 chill hours, and is self-fertile, fruiting reliably without a pollinator partner.
10-14″ Tall, 1 Liter Potted Plant Propagation: Own-root Can’t be shipped to: AK, AZ, CA, HI, ID, MT, NV, OR, UT, WA
Pink Lemonade is a highbush-rabbiteye hybrid blueberry developed by USDA-ARS plant geneticist Nicholi Vorsa at the Chatsworth, New Jersey research station. Its parentage combines an experimental USDA-ARS selection (female, carrying highbush-rabbiteye hybrid genetics) with Delite, a Rabbiteye cultivar released earlier by USDA and the University of Georgia. The cross was made at Chatsworth with the specific objective of producing a pink-fruited variety: Pink Lemonade carries a recessive mutation that suppresses the anthocyanin pigments responsible for the deep blue skin of conventional blueberries, leaving ripe fruit a clear, bright pink. USDA-ARS formally released it as the numbered selection ARS 96-138 in 2005 and assigned the name Pink Lemonade in 2007 following evaluations at both the Chatsworth center and by ARS plant geneticist Chad Finn in Corvallis, Oregon. It carries no patent and is available without royalty.
Pink Lemonade Rabbiteye Blueberry is well suited to Zones 6–9 and thrives in the long, hot summers common across the Southeast and mid-Atlantic. Rabbiteye blueberries require very low chill (as few as 150–200 hours below 45°F), making this variety reliable where Southern winters are mild. Plant in full sun—at least six hours daily—in well-drained, humus-rich, strongly acidic soil. Target a pH of 4.5–5.0; test before planting and amend with elemental sulfur several months in advance if needed. Pink Lemonade is intolerant of waterlogged roots and highly sensitive to soil salinity, so avoid alkaline water sources and salt-amended soils. Growth rate is slow to moderate; mature plants reach 3–5 feet. Mulch heavily with wood chips or pine bark to conserve moisture, suppress weeds, and maintain acidity. Supplemental irrigation during dry spells in the first two seasons accelerates establishment.
USDA Hardiness Zone: 5-9 AHS Heat Zone: 6-9 Chill Hours: 200-300 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: Low to Moderate Heat Tolerance: High; better than pure highbush due to rabbiteye parentage Plant Spacing: 5-6 ft apart Container Suitability: Yes; 15+ gallon pot minimum
Pink Lemonade forms a compact, upright to slightly spreading deciduous shrub, reaching 3–5 feet tall at maturity—manageable in mixed borders, edible hedgerows, or large containers. Growth is slow to moderate, and the plant's moderate wind tolerance makes it suitable for open garden settings where some air movement is expected. Foliage is deciduous, contributing soft autumn color before leaf drop. The plant supports a broad community of wildlife: bees and butterflies visit flowers in spring, songbirds and small mammals seek the fruit in summer. Deer readily browse the twigs and shoots, so fencing or repellent programs are advisable in high-pressure areas. Salt tolerance is low; avoid planting near roads treated with de-icing salts or in coastal zones with saline irrigation water. In permaculture designs, Pink Lemonade serves as an edible fruit producer, pollinator nectary, and compact understory element.
Mature Height: 3-5 ft tall Mature Spread: 4-5 ft wide Growth Habit: Upright, rounded shrub Growth Rate: Slow to Moderate Foliage Type: Deciduous Food Forest Layer: Shrub Permaculture Role: Edible fruit shrub; pollinator nectar source; wildlife food (berries) and habitat Leaf Color: Green Fall Foliage Color: Orange-red Thorns?: No Attracts Wildlife: Flowers attract bumblebees, native bees, and honey bees; ripe berries attract songbirds and small mammals Life Span: 20-30 years
Pink Lemonade is self-fertile and will set fruit without a companion plant, though cross-pollination from at least one compatible Rabbiteye variety significantly increases both yield and berry size. Bees, particularly native bumblebees and managed honeybees, transfer pollen between varieties as flowers open in spring. Plant two or more Rabbiteye cultivars within 50–100 feet for reliable bee movement between plants. On-website companions available from Food Forest Nursery include Climax Blueberry, Powderblue Blueberry, and TifBlue Blueberry — all Rabbiteye types that overlap in bloom timing and share the same low-chill adaptation. Interplanting at a ratio of one Pink Lemonade per two to three companion plants typically maximizes fruit set and even ripening across the planting.
Bloom Season: Early Bloom Window: Mid Apr - Mid May Pollination Requirements: Self-fertile; cross-pollination with another rabbiteye variety improves yield and berry size significantly Pollination Mechanism: Insect-pollinated (buzz/sonication pollination by bumblebees and native bees; honey bees also forage) Flower Color: Pinkish-white, bell-shaped Ploidy: Hexaploid (6x)
The defining trait of Pink Lemonade is its bright, rosy-pink skin at full ripeness—a direct result of reduced anthocyanin pigmentation rather than immaturity. Flavor is mild and pleasant, sweet with subtle floral notes, and generally lighter in tartness than pigmented blueberry varieties. Berries ripen mid-season, with harvest falling in mid- to late July in temperate climates. The unusual color makes them a standout in fresh presentations: fruit salads, yogurt parfaits, garnishes, and cheese boards all benefit from the visual contrast. Smoothies take on a paler, rose-tinted hue, and the berries photograph beautifully alongside darker summer fruits. Because anthocyanins are reduced, the antioxidant profile differs from conventional blueberries, though the fruit remains nutritious. Birds discover ripe pink berries quickly once they soften; light netting over fruiting clusters is the most effective way to reserve the crop for the kitchen.
Ripening Season: Mid Harvest Window: Mid Jul - Late Jul Fruit Size: Medium; 0.5-0.75 inch Flavor: Mild, pleasant; sweet with subtle floral notes Fruit Color: Bright pink (fully ripe); unusual — lacks anthocyanin pigmentation in skin Fruit Texture: Firm Bearing Habit: Annual bearer Years to Bear: 2-3 years Yield: 10-20 per mature bush Culinary Uses: Fresh eating; smoothies; yogurt parfaits; fruit salads; garnishes
Pink Lemonade faces the standard disease and pest pressures of Rabbiteye blueberries in humid climates. Mummy berry (Monilinia vaccinii-corymbosi) is the most widespread fungal concern; rake out and destroy infected mummies from beneath plants each spring before shoots emerge to break the spore cycle. Botryosphaeria stem blight (Botryosphaeria dothidea) can kill canes during summer stress—prune affected wood well below the discolored margin, disinfect tools between cuts, and maintain consistent irrigation to reduce plant stress. Anthracnose fruit rot (Colletotrichum acutatum) strikes in wet harvest seasons; improve air circulation through selective pruning and avoid overhead irrigation. Phytophthora root rot (Phytophthora cinnamomi) develops in waterlogged soils; plant in raised or well-drained beds and never let roots stand in water. Septoria leaf spot (Septoria albopunctata) is generally cosmetic but signals poor air movement or prolonged leaf wetness. Among pests, spotted wing drosophila (Drosophila suzukii) poses the greatest harvest-season threat; monitor with traps and apply kaolin clay or OMRI-listed spinosad as populations rise. Blueberry maggot (Rhagoletis mendax), cranberry fruitworm (Acrobasis vaccinii), and plum curculio (Conotrachelus nenuphar) are managed through trap monitoring, prompt harvest, and removing dropped fruit.
Test soil pH annually: Even small drift above 5.0 sharply reduces iron uptake and stalls growth in Rabbiteye blueberries.
Keep a Rabbiteye pollinator within 50 feet: Climax, Powderblue, or TifBlue ensures adequate cross-pollination for a full crop.
Net at the pink stage: Install bird exclusion netting as berries turn pink — birds target the clusters before full ripeness.
Judge ripeness by taste, not color: Pink flesh can look underripe to first-time growers; taste-test to confirm sweetness before harvesting the whole planting.
We ship in late winter or early spring based on your USDA hardiness zone.
We strive to ship orders on the scheduled dates listed in the table below. However, please note that the actual shipping date may be subject to change due to factors like weather conditions and order volume.
The specific date for shipping your order will be determined according to your zipcode at the time of checkout.
Our plants are shipped bare root, packed in moist sawdust, and securely wrapped in plastic to prevent the roots from drying out. We use USPS Ground Advantage for shipping, ensuring that your plants typically arrive within 2-5 days after packaging.
In case you're unable to plant the trees immediately upon arrival, we recommend soaking them in water for a few hours and temporarily heeling them in. Ideally, they should be planted within three days of receipt for optimal health.
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:
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
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