Climax Blueberry is a dependable early-season rabbiteye variety known for its sweet, flavorful berries and concentrated harvest. Much of the crop ripens within a relatively short period, making Climax an excellent choice for fresh eating, home freezing, preserves, and backyard fruit gardens. The berries are small to medium-sized with good blue color, excellent firmness, and a small, dry picking scar. The plant develops a vigorous, upright, open growth habit and is well suited to North Florida, the Florida Panhandle, South Alabama, and other areas of the Southeast. UF/IFAS includes Climax among the rabbiteye cultivars suited to North and North-Central Florida. Plant Details Plant Type: Deciduous fruiting shrub Botanical Name: Vaccinium virgatum ‘Climax’ Former Botanical Name: Vaccinium ashei ‘Climax’ Blueberry Type: Rabbiteye Mature Size: Rabbiteye blueberries may reach approximately 10–15 feet tall if left unpruned but can be maintained around 6–8 feet for easier harvesting Sun: Full sun for the best flowering and fruit production USDA Zones: 7–9 Chill Hours: Approximately 400–450 hours Bloom Time: Early spring Harvest Time: Early rabbiteye season, generally late May through June in North Florida, depending on winter temperatures and spring weather Fruit: Small to medium-sized, firm blue berries with a small, dry picking scar Flavor: Sweet with good traditional blueberry flavor Pollination: Requires another rabbiteye blueberry with overlapping bloom time Soil: Acidic, well-drained soil rich in organic matter Preferred Soil pH: Approximately 4.0–5.5 Water: Keep consistently moist during establishment and fruit development, but avoid waterlogged soil Growth Habit: Vigorous, upright, and open Landscape Uses: Home orchards, edible landscapes, blueberry hedges, wildlife gardens, and pick-your-own plantings ATTRACTS POLLINATORS: Spring flowers attract bees and other beneficial pollinators Climax has an estimated 400–450-hour chilling requirement and produces firm, flavorful berries during the early rabbiteye season. Unpruned rabbiteye blueberries may eventually reach 10–15 feet tall, although routine renewal pruning can keep them at a more manageable height. Best Pollinator Partners Climax is not reliably self-fruitful and should be planted near a different rabbiteye blueberry variety for dependable fruit production. The two strongest recommended pollinator partners from our selection are: Austin Blueberry Premier Blueberry University of Georgia cultivar guidance specifically recommends Austin and Premier as pollinizers for Climax because their flowering periods provide suitable overlap. Other early-season rabbiteye varieties may provide some bloom overlap, but Austin and Premier are the most dependable choices for this variety. Plant the different varieties within approximately 50 feet of one another so bees can move easily between the flowers. Do not rely on a Southern Highbush blueberry to pollinate Climax—rabbiteye blueberries should be paired with other rabbiteye varieties. North Florida Growing Note Climax receives enough winter chill in most of North Florida and the Florida Panhandle. However, it tends to bloom early, so open flowers and young berries can occasionally be damaged by a late winter or early spring freeze. Planting on slightly elevated ground with good air movement may help reduce frost exposure. Blueberries have shallow root systems and benefit from several inches of pine bark or pine straw mulch. Select a sunny location with acidic, well-drained soil and avoid low areas where water remains after heavy rain. Climax does not produce as many new canes from ground level as some rabbiteye varieties. When pruning older plants, avoid removing too many healthy canes at one time. Available for local pickup at our nursery in DeFuniak Springs, Florida. Shipping is not currently available for this blueberry plant. Wholesale availability may be offered on select sizes and quantities. Please contact us for current inventory and wholesale information. Advanced Nursery Growers1911 McLeod RoadDeFuniak Springs, FL 32435Call: 850-391-2228Email: [email protected]
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