Vernon Blueberry Plant

Vernon Blueberry Plant – Rabbiteye Blueberry

The Vernon Blueberry is a vigorous, early-producing rabbiteye variety known for its large, firm berries and dependable yields. The berries have good flavor, attractive color, and a small, dry picking scar that helps them store well after harvest.

Vernon blooms slightly later than some older early-season varieties but still ripens very early—often around the same time as, or slightly ahead of, Climax and Premier. This makes it an excellent choice for gardeners wanting to begin their rabbiteye blueberry harvest early.

Vernon is well suited to the climate of North Florida, the Florida Panhandle, South Alabama, and other areas of the Southeast where rabbiteye blueberries grow successfully.

Plant Details

• Plant Type: Deciduous fruiting shrub
• Botanical Name: Vaccinium virgatum ‘Vernon’
• Blueberry Type: Rabbiteye
• Mature Size: Approximately 8–12 feet tall and 6–10 feet wide; size can be controlled through pruning
• Sun: Full sun for best fruit production
• USDA Zones: 7–9
• Chill Hours: Approximately 450 hours
• Bloom Time: Early spring
• Harvest Time: Early rabbiteye season, generally late May through June in North Florida, depending on weather
• Fruit: Large, firm, flavorful blue berries with a small, dry picking scar
• Pollination: Requires another rabbiteye blueberry with overlapping bloom time
• Soil: Moist, acidic, well-drained soil with a preferred pH of approximately 4.0–5.5
• Water: Water regularly while establishing and during flowering and fruit development; avoid waterlogged soil
• Growth Habit: Vigorous, upright growth
• Landscape Uses: Home orchards, edible landscapes, blueberry hedges, wildlife gardens, and pick-your-own plantings
• ATTRACTS POLLINATORS: Spring flowers attract bees and other beneficial pollinators

Best Pollinator Partners

Vernon should be planted near at least one different rabbiteye blueberry variety for dependable fruit production.

The strongest recommended pollinator partner is:

• Alapaha Blueberry

Other early-season rabbiteye varieties that may provide useful bloom overlap include:

• Titan Blueberry
• Climax Blueberry
• Premier Blueberry
• Austin Blueberry

Alapaha is the best-known match because it has very similar bloom timing and is specifically recommended as a companion for Vernon. Plant the varieties within approximately 50 feet of one another so bees can move easily between the flowers.

North Florida Growing Note

Vernon’s estimated 450-hour chilling requirement is a good match for many areas of North Florida and the Florida Panhandle. Because it is an early-blooming rabbiteye, flowers may occasionally need protection during a late winter freeze.

Blueberries have shallow roots and grow best with several inches of pine bark or pine straw mulch. Avoid planting in locations that remain wet after heavy rain. Vernon is especially vigorous, so use light fertilizer applications and avoid excessive nitrogen, which can produce too much leafy growth and reduce fruit production.

Available primarily for local pickup at our nursery in DeFuniak Springs, Florida. Shipping is not currently available for this blueberry plant.

Wholesale availability may be offered on select sizes and quantities. Please contact us for current inventory and wholesale information.

Advanced Nursery Growers
1911 McLeod Road
DeFuniak Springs, FL 32435
Call: 850-391-2228
Email: info@advancednurserygrowers.com