Blueberry Duke
Notify MeBlueberry Duke is an early-season highbush blueberry known for its reliable productivity and mildly sweet flavour. Berries are medium to large, firm, and excellent for fresh eating or baking. Flowering in mid to late Spring, this deciduous shrub also adds ornamental value with its delicate white flowers and vibrant yellow-orange Autumn foliage.
A great choice for edible borders, home orchards, or container growing, it suits cottage, modern, and urban gardens.
Plant in a sunny to partially shaded location with free-draining, acidic soil. Maintain consistent moisture, particularly during flowering and fruiting. Space plants 1.2–1.5m apart to ensure healthy growth and easy harvesting.
Mature size: Upright and compact, growing to around 1.5–2m tall and 1.2m wide.
Trimming: Prune in late winter to early spring while the plant is dormant. Focus on removing any dead, damaged, or thin branches to maintain an open framework. For mature plants, remove up to a third of the oldest stems at the base to stimulate new, productive growth.
Deadheading: Not required, but tidy up any unharvested or dried berries after fruiting to discourage pests and fungal issues.
Fertilising: Apply an acid-formulated fertiliser (such as for rhododendrons or camellias) in early spring. A second light feed may be given in mid to late summer if leaf growth is pale or slow. Avoid fertilisers containing lime.
Watering: Maintain consistent moisture, especially during establishment and fruiting. ‘Duke’ prefers well-drained, acidic soil—mulch with pine bark or peat to help retain moisture and suppress weeds.
Pest Control: Typically low-maintenance, but birds can target ripening berries—use netting when necessary. Monitor for aphids and scale on young shoots, treating with insecticidal soap or horticultural oil if needed.
Disease Management: Susceptible to root rot in poorly drained conditions—ensure free-draining soil. In humid climates, watch for powdery mildew (white coating on leaves) and treat with a sulphur-based fungicide if present. Maintain good airflow by pruning and spacing appropriately.
Enjoy complimentary delivery anywhere in mainland New Zealand when you purchase plants worth $250 or more*.
For orders below $250, the following flat-rate delivery charges are applicable:
- Urban delivery within mainland New Zealand: $19.95
- Rural delivery within mainland New Zealand: $39.95
- Waiheke, Chatham and Great Barrier Islands: Please contact us for shipping options.
We aim to have all orders shipped within 14 days from the order date, unless a different shipping date is specified alongside a product.
