Lowbush Blueberry vs Ben Sarek Black Currant - TreeTime.ca

Lowbush Blueberry vs Ben Sarek Black Currant

Vaccinium angustifolium

Ribes nigrum Ben Sarek

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

Lowbush Blueberry
Ben Sarek Black Currant

Lowbush Blueberry, commonly known as the Wild Lowbush Blueberry, is often wild-harvested and thrives in low pH acidic soil. This early low-bush blueberry produces white and pink bell-shaped flowers in the spring. Its fruit is smaller in size than high bush blueberry plants and is more flavourful with an intense blueberry taste-masking it perfect for fresh eating, baking, and preserves.

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 sulfur. 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.

Ben Sarek Black Currant is a compact, high-yielding Black Currant cultivar, making it ideal for smaller gardens and easy berry picking. The large clusters of flavourful, sweet-tart berries ripen in mid-summer and are perfect for fresh eating, preserves, baked goods, and liqueurs. Plants may start producing some berries after two years, reaching full production in about four to five.

Developed by the Scottish Crop Research Institute, Ben Sarek Black Currant is resistant to powdery mildew and moderately resistant to white pine blister rust. It is self-fertile, meaning it does not require cross-pollination from another variety to produce fruit.

Lowbush Blueberry Quick Facts

Ben Sarek Black Currant Quick Facts

Lowest Price: $7.99 - SAVE UP TO 21%
Zone: 2a
Zone: 3a
Height: 0.3 m (1.0 ft)
Height: 1.1 m (4 ft)
Spread: 0.3 m (1.0 ft)
Spread: 1.1 m (4 ft)
Light: partial shade, full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: normal
Moisture: normal
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: fast
Life span: medium
Life span: short
Growth form: compact, dense, rounded
Spreading: layering - low
Suckering: none
Maintenance: high
Maintenance: medium


Foliage: aromatic when crushed
Flowers: white, pink tinged, bell shaped
Flowers: greenish-yellow
Bloom time: early to mid spring
Berries: edible blue
Berries: black currants, edible
Flavor: sweet-tart
Harvest: July
Harvest: mid-summer
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Native to: MB, ON, QC, NS, NB, NL, PE
Other Names: late lowbush blueberry, late sweet blueberry, wild lowbush blueberry
Other Names: ben sarek blackcurrant