O’Neal Blueberry – A Plant for Southern Gardens

O’Neal Blueberry Plant
Image Credit: The Evergreen Nursery
Height: 4′ – 6′
Space: 4′-6′

“O’Neal is a very early ripening, low-chill, highbush blueberry. It is also a self-pollinating cultivar. Developed in North Carolina, O’Neal is an exceptional plant for the Southeast and Gulf States. O’Neal has large berries that are sweet and firm, and pick cleanly from the bush. Yields of 6-10 pounds of high quality fruit can be produced on mature plants. O’Neal grows 4-6′ tall with stout stems and attractive foliage, and has an upright, spreading habit.” The Evergreen Nursery

“This O’Neal blueberry is considered by many to be the best flavored berry of the Southern Highbush varieties. It has big, sweet, firm, delicious blueberries that cover the 4 to 6 feet tall bushes in May and June. In the fall, the green gray foliage turns to shades of orange and burgundy.” Gurney’s

“The O’Neal blueberry plant is a perennial shrub that can grow to be 4–6 feet tall. It has dense foliage with glossy, dark green leaves that turn burgundy in the fall. The O’Neal plant is self-pollinating and can start blooming in the fall in zones 8 and 9. The main crop ripens in late April to May.

“Blueberry plants can grow quickly and reach 70% of their mature size in their first year. However, it can take several years for blueberry bushes to fully mature and begin producing fruit. Mature highbush blueberries can produce 5–10 pounds of fruit per plant, while half-high blueberries typically produce 1–3 pounds per plant.” Google ai