Common Blueberry vs Sebastien Gooseberry - TreeTime.ca

Common Blueberry vs Sebastien Gooseberry

Ribes uva-crispa Sebastien

Vaccinium myrtilloides

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON

(new stock expected: fall of 2026)

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON

Sebastien Gooseberry
Common Blueberry

Sebastien Gooseberry is a nearly thornless variety that produces medium-sized, red gooseberries. When the berries are fully ripe they are quite sweet and great for fresh eating. They can be stored for up to two weeks in the fridge. For baking and preserves, they are often picked when under-ripe when they are firm and tart. The general harvest period is anywhere from July to September.

Sebastien Gooseberry is a Canadian variety that was developed at the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada research station in Ottawa.

Gooseberries are self-pollinating but planting with another variety will increase yields.

Common Blueberry is an August maturing berry that is wonderfully flavorful and contain more antioxidants by volume than the highbush varieties.
They'll give your baked goods a wonderful pop of flavor.

It isn't as large, pretty, or high yielding as the other varieties we carry. But Common Blueberry is one of the only blueberries that will survive in plant hardiness zones 1A to 2B.

Note: Blueberries require very specific soil conditions. They need well-drained soil with a pH between 4.5 and 5.0.

Sebastien Gooseberry Quick Facts

Common Blueberry Quick Facts

Zone: 3a
Zone: 1a
Height: 1.5 m (5 ft)
Height: 0.5 m (1.5 ft)
Spread: 1.5 m (5 ft)
Spread: 0.5 m (1.5 ft)
Moisture: normal
Moisture: dry, normal
Light: partial shade, full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no
Fall colour: yellow, orange, and red
Berries: reddish and medium sized
Berries: blue
Firmness: medium
Flavor: tart
Harvest: late July to September
Harvest: late summer
Flowers: white
Growth rate: fast
Growth rate: medium
Life span: short
Life span: short
Suckering: low
Suckering: none



Toxicity: leaves are toxic to humans

Other Names: canadian blueberry, sourtop blueberry, velvetleaf blueberry, velvetleaf huckleberry