USDA-Spries Rabbiteye Blueberry

USDA-Spiers Rabbiteye Blueberry

‘USDA-Spiers’ is an early-ripening rabbiteye blueberry cultivar bred for exceptional performance in the southeastern U.S. Ideal for growers targeting the fresh berry market, this variety produces medium-to-large, firm, light-blue berries with excellent flavor and resistance to rain-induced splitting.

 It blooms late enough to avoid frost damage but ripens berries as early as mid-May. Plants have a moderately spreading growth habit, require minimal pruning, and are easy to propagate from cuttings.

In multi-year trials, ‘USDA-Spiers’ outperformed many early-season cultivars in berry firmness, size, and split resistance, while offering solid yields and attractive fruit ideal for hand-harvest.

Key Features:

• Early ripening (mid-May to mid-June)

• Very firm, flavorful berries (2.0g+)

• Low splitting tendency

• Moderate plant vigor and low pruning needs

• Excellent for fresh market sales

Pollination: Requires cross-pollination with other rabbiteye cultivars with similar bloom times (Late).

Named in honor of Dr. James M. Spiers, this cultivar continues his legacy of advancing southern blueberry production.