Chippewa Blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium × corymbosum ‘Chippewa’)

Chippewa Blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium × corymbosum ‘Chippewa’) is a compact cold-hardy blueberry shrub prized for its sweet flavourful berries, excellent winter hardiness, and ornamental seasonal interest. This half-high blueberry variety combines the fruit quality of highbush blueberries with the extreme cold tolerance of native lowbush types, making it especially well suited for Prairie and northern Canadian gardens.

The shrub produces abundant medium-sized blue berries in mid-summer with sweet flavour ideal for fresh eating, baking, preserves, and freezing. In spring, delicate white bell-shaped flowers appear across the branches and attract pollinators to the garden. The dense green foliage turns brilliant shades of orange, red, and burgundy in autumn, adding outstanding fall colour to edible landscapes and ornamental plantings.

Its naturally compact rounded growth habit makes Chippewa Blueberry an excellent choice for smaller gardens, raised beds, edible landscapes, and patio containers. For best fruit production, plant alongside another blueberry variety for improved cross-pollination.

In Alberta, Chippewa Blueberry performs best in full sun with acidic, well-drained soil rich in organic matter. Consistent moisture is important during flowering and fruit production, especially during warm Prairie summers.