Oregon Grape vs Elliott Blueberry - TreeTime.ca

Oregon Grape vs Elliott Blueberry

Berberis aquifolium (Mahonia aquifolium)

Vaccinium corymbosum Elliott

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON

Oregon Grape
Elliott Blueberry

Oregon Grape is an evergreen shrub native to North America, found along the Pacific coast. In spring, the bright golden-yellow flowers appear in clusters above the leaves. These flowers eventually give way to edible blue berries in late summer. While not a true grape, the berries appear grape-like due to their colouring and clustered growth. They can be eaten fresh, but the sour taste and high amounts of natural pectin make them well suited for preserves.

The Oregon Grape has leaves that are glossy, leathery, and spiny-edged. This feature gives it its alternate name of Holly-leaved Barberry. When the leaves emerge in the spring they are a bronze-red colour. In the summer they transition to green, followed by bright red to deep burgundy in the fall. Leaves are retained throughout the winter and colder temperatures cause the leaves to turn purplish bronze, providing year round interest to the landscape.

Elliott Blueberry is a very high yielding, commercial highbush blueberry variety. If you're lucky enough to live in a suitable climate zone, Elliott Blueberry will serve you well. Its medium-size berries mature late in the summer and have a mild flavor. The berries are firm and store well.

While this variety is self-pollinating, we recommend pairing Elliott Blueberry with Blue Crop Blueberry to increase the berry production of both varieties.

Note: Blueberries require very specific soil conditions. They need well-drained soil with a pH between 4.5 and 5.0. If the starting pH of your soil is between 5.1 and 6.2 you can lower it by adding sulphur. We recommend against planting blueberries in soil with a starting pH greater than 6.2. Please do your own research before buying any blueberry plants.

Oregon Grape Quick Facts

Elliott Blueberry Quick Facts

Zone: 5a
Zone: 4a
Height: 1.5 m (5 ft)
Height: 1.8 m (6 ft)
Spread: 0.9 m (3 ft)
Spread: 1.5 m (5 ft)
Moisture: normal, wet
Moisture: normal
Light: shade, partial shade
Light: partial shade, full sun
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no
Fall colour: bright red to deep burgundy
Fall colour: orange-red
Berries: blue to purple, large
Berries: large clusters of blue berries
Fruit size: medium
Firmness: firm
Flavor: sweet/tart depending on maturity
Harvest: late summer to early fall
Flowers: yellow
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: medium
Life span: long
Life span: short
Maintenance: medium
Suckering: medium
Suckering: none