Description
The Draper blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum ‘Draper’) is a high-performing northern highbush blueberry cultivar prized for its exceptional fruit quality and reliability. Developed through USDA breeding programs, Draper is known for producing medium to large, firm berries with excellent flavor and a small, dry picking scar. The berries ripen uniformly, making this variety especially well suited for home gardens and commercial harvest alike.
Draper plants have an upright, compact growth habit and strong disease resistance, contributing to consistent yields year after year. The fruit ripens in mid-season, often following early varieties and extending the blueberry harvest window. With proper soil acidity and regular moisture, Draper blueberries are vigorous, cold-hardy, and long-lived, rewarding growers with heavy crops and attractive fall foliage in shades of red and orange.
Key Facts at a Glance
- Botanical name: Vaccinium corymbosum ‘Draper’
- Type: Northern highbush blueberry
- USDA hardiness zones: 5–8
- Mature size: 4–5 ft tall and wide
- Growth habit: Upright, compact, well-structured
- Chill hours: ~800–1,000 hours
- Ripening season: Mid-season
- Fruit size & quality: Medium to large, very firm, excellent flavor
- Pollination: Self-fertile, but higher yields with cross-pollination
- Sun requirements: Full sun
- Soil needs: Acidic soil (pH 4.5–5.5), well-drained
- Water needs: Moderate; consistent moisture preferred
