POLARIS blueberry

General information & origin

• ‘Polaris’ is a half-high variety (hybrid between high-bush and low-bush) developed in Minnesota.
• It is very cold-resistant (hardiness zone ≈ zone 3 in Canada), making it suitable for harsh winters.

Plant characteristics

• Size    
  • Approximately 3-4 feet (0.9-1.2 m) in height and width. Compact with an upright or slightly spreading habit.
    
• Foliage    
  • Dark green leaves in summer; in fall, they turn beautiful orange-red colors, making it an interesting ornamental plant as well.
    
• Flowering    
  • White bell-shaped flowers, sometimes with a pinkish tinge, in spring.

Fruit & flavor

• The fruit is medium-sized, light blue to powder blue, and firm.
• Excellent taste: sweet, aromatic, with a good balance of sweetness and acidity.
• Fairly early harvest (or early to mid-season) among half-high varieties.

Growing conditions

• Exposure    
  • Full sun to partial shade. Best production with plenty of light.
    
• Soil    
  • Acidic soil (pH ≈ 4.5–5.5), well-drained, rich in organic matter.
    
• Watering    
  • Keep soil slightly moist at all times; avoid letting it dry out too much, especially during fruiting.
    
• Pollination    
  • Semi-self-fertile (i.e., it can produce on its own), but production is better if you have at least one other compatible variety nearby to improve pollination.
    

Strengths & limitations

Strengths:

• Very hardy, suited to cold winters.
• Pleasant flavor, good yields, firm fruit—also good for freezing or processing.
• Compact growth habit, good yield even with modestly sized plants.

Limitations or things to watch out for:

• Fruit is not huge—if you're looking for large blueberries, other highbush varieties may produce larger fruit.
• Like many blueberry plants, sensitive to soil pH: if the soil is not acidic enough or if it is too compact/poorly drained, the plant will suffer.
• Often requires a pollinator to maximize yield.