- Lowbush blueberry, described as a “deciduous, twiggy” bush by the University of Connecticut Plant Database, grows between 6 and 24 inches, with a width of 24 inches. The highbush blueberry is much larger, making it impossible to confuse the two when mature. It grows as an upright bush between 6 to 12 feet, with most in the range of 5 to 8 feet high. Their widths often match their height.
- Tolerance of extreme cold is a quality the lowbush blueberry features that the highbush variety lacks. Lowbush blueberry is native as far north as parts of Manitoba, Labrador and Newfoundland and it grows into U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zone 2. Highbush blueberry is only cold-hardy to USDA zone 5. It grows from sections of Ontario and Nova Scotia southward to Georgia and west to states such as Texas and Oklahoma. It displays more tolerance for warmer climates than its cousin does.
- These blueberry bushes share an affinity for acidic soil that is organically enriched and well draining. The ideal pH level for lowbush blueberry is between 4.5 and 5.5, while highbush blueberry thrives in acidic ground between 4.8 and 5.2, notes the Missouri Botanical Garden. Both shrubs do well in full sun to partial shade and they both excel in damp situations. A layer of organic mulch enhances their chances of performing in a site. Placement in full sun means the bush will manufacture more flowers and fruit and that the fall color will be more vibrant.
- Tiny white flowers occur on both types of blueberry shrubs in May, yielding the bluish-black berries that ripen in the summer months. The foliage is dark green, with lowbush blueberry leaves changing to shades of red-bronze in autumn and highbush foliage turning hues of purple and red. These bushes even afford some winter color to the landscape, as their stems are reddish and easily visible once the leaves come off.
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