Windsor Blueberry Plant

Windsor is a vigorous Southern Highbush blueberry known for producing exceptionally large, firm berries with a sweet, pleasant flavor. It has a semi-upright, slightly spreading growth habit and begins producing its crop early in the blueberry season.

Developed by the University of Florida, Windsor is well suited to areas with mild winters, including North Florida. It is more self-fruitful than many Southern Highbush blueberries, but planting it with another compatible variety can improve berry size, ripening, and overall production.

Plant Details

• Plant Type: Deciduous fruiting shrub
• Blueberry Type: Southern Highbush
• Botanical Name: Vaccinium hybrid ‘Windsor’
• Mature Size: Approximately 5–6 feet tall and 3–5 feet wide
• Growth Habit: Vigorous, semi-upright, and slightly spreading
• Sun: Full sun for the best flowering and fruit production
• USDA Zones: Approximately Zones 7–9
• Chill Hours: Approximately 300 hours
• Bloom Time: Late winter to early spring
• Harvest Time: Early season, generally April into early May in North Florida
• Berry Size: Exceptionally large
• Berry Color: Dark blue with a natural waxy coating
• Flavor: Sweet and pleasant with mild acidity
• Fruit Quality: Firm berries with a good texture
• Pollination: Partially self-fruitful, but another Southern Highbush variety is recommended
• Soil: Acidic, organic, moist, and very well-drained
• Preferred Soil pH: Approximately 4.0–5.5
• Water: Keep evenly moist without leaving the roots waterlogged
• Spacing: Approximately 4–5 feet apart
• Landscape Uses: Home orchards, edible landscapes, fruiting hedges, raised beds, large containers, and local farms
• ATTRACTS POLLINATORS: Spring flowers attract bees and other beneficial pollinators

Best Pollinator Partners

Windsor is partially self-fruitful and can produce berries when planted alone. However, planting another Southern Highbush blueberry nearby can improve pollination, berry size, ripening, and overall fruit production.

Recommended pollination partners from the Southern Highbush blueberries we carry include:

• Emerald
• Jewel
• Sweetcrisp
• Farthing
• Springhigh
• Galaxy
• Rebel
• Gupton
• Pearl
• Sunshine Blue

Emerald and Jewel are among our strongest recommendations for planting with Windsor because their flowering periods generally provide good overlap.

Galaxy can also pollinate Windsor. Galaxy is a very early-blooming Southern Highbush variety, so the amount of overlap may vary with the winter and early spring weather. Galaxy is a good additional pollinator, but we recommend planting Emerald, Jewel, or another compatible variety nearby rather than depending on Galaxy as Windsor’s only pollinator.

Sweetcrisp, Farthing, Springhigh, and Rebel may also provide useful bloom overlap. Gupton, Pearl, and Sunshine Blue are compatible Southern Highbush varieties, but their amount of flowering overlap with Windsor may vary from year to year.

For dependable pollination, consider combinations such as:

• Windsor and Emerald
• Windsor and Jewel
• Windsor and Sweetcrisp
• Windsor, Galaxy, and Emerald
• Windsor, Galaxy, and Jewel

Planting three different Southern Highbush varieties can extend the flowering period and improve the chance of good cross-pollination during changing spring weather.

Rabbiteye varieties such as Brightwell, Premier, Climax, Powderblue, Tifblue, and Alapaha should not be depended upon as Windsor’s primary pollinators.

North Florida Growing Note

Windsor’s chilling requirement is well suited to much of North Florida and the Florida Panhandle. However, Windsor may begin blooming while late winter or early spring freezes are still possible.

Plant Windsor away from low-lying frost pockets and be prepared to protect flowers and young berries when freezing temperatures are expected. The mature plant is reasonably cold-hardy while dormant, but open flowers and developing fruit can be damaged by a late freeze.

Southern Highbush blueberries generally need more careful soil preparation and watering than Rabbiteye blueberries. They perform best in acidic soil with plenty of organic matter, excellent drainage, and dependable moisture.

Planting and Care Tips

Plant Windsor in full sun in an acidic, well-drained planting area. Pine bark fines, aged pine bark, or another suitable acidic organic material can be added to improve drainage and help create the root conditions blueberries need.

Apply pine bark or pine straw mulch around the plant to help conserve moisture, protect the shallow roots, and discourage weeds. Keep mulch pulled slightly away from the main stems.

Water regularly during establishment, flowering, and fruit development. Blueberries need consistent moisture, but they should never remain in standing water.

Removing flowers and young fruit during the plant’s first growing season can help it establish a stronger root system and healthier branches.

Local Pickup and Availability

Windsor Blueberry plants are available for local pickup at our nursery in DeFuniak Springs, Florida. Shipping is limited and may not be available for blueberry plants. Please contact us before ordering if shipping will be required.

Wholesale availability may be offered for qualifying quantities. Contact us for current sizes, availability, and wholesale pricing.

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