Northern Highbush
Elliott blueberry extends your harvest season well into fall with its exceptional late-ripening berries that mature in August and September. This robust heirloom cultivar produces medium to large, firm berries with an old-fashioned blueberry flavor on a sturdy 4-6 foot bush adorned with striking burgundy stems and foliage. Hardy in zones 4-8, Elliott takes 2-3 years to begin bearing but rewards patience with decades of productive harvests from a single planting.
Set your location to see if this variety matches your area
Full Sun
Moderate
4-8
72in H x 60in W
Perennial
High
Hover over chart points for details
What sets Elliott apart is its remarkable harvest window that can stretch five weeks into September, making it invaluable for extending the blueberry season. The dark blue berries pack robust, traditional blueberry flavor and rank among the highest of all varieties in beneficial antioxidants. Beyond the fruit, this variety offers year-round beauty with its distinctive burgundy-colored stems and leaves that create stunning landscape interest even when not in production.
Elliott berries excel both fresh and cooked, with their firm texture making them particularly suitable for baking, jams, and preserves. The robust, old-fashioned flavor shines in fresh eating, while the extended harvest season makes this variety ideal for preserving summer's bounty well into fall.
Begin harvesting Elliott berries in August when they turn deep blue and feel firm to the touch. The extended ripening period allows for picking over five weeks, continuing well into September. Berries are ready when they release easily from the stem and have developed their full dark blue color.
As a bush-form blueberry, Elliott benefits from annual dormant season pruning to maintain its upright, productive structure and manage the wide, thick stems characteristic of this vigorous grower.
Enter your ZIP code to see a personalized growing calendar for this plant.
“Elliott blueberry was introduced in 1973 as a late-season variety specifically developed to extend the blueberry harvest. This heirloom cultivar has become treasured by growers seeking to maximize their picking season, earning a reputation as a reliable old friend in berry patches across maritime and northern climates.”