St. Cloud is a half-high blueberry cultivar developed by the University of Minnesota for exceptional cold hardiness and reliable production. Plants have a bushy, upright growth habit and reach approximately 4 feet in height at maturity, with a similar spread. Ripening time is early to mid-season and has been comparable to Northblue, indicating strong winter hardiness. Mature plants average about 7 pounds of fruit per plant. Fruit is medium to large in size, averaging approximately 70 berries per cup. Berries are firm with excellent fresh flavor and are well suited for fresh markets, U-pick operations, and freezing. While typically harvested by hand, the plant’s stature also allows for mechanical harvesting. Frozen fruit quality is consistently superior, maintaining firmness and flavor. St. Cloud produces clusters of round, blue berries that ripen in mid-summer. Flavor is sweet with a firm texture, making the fruit suitable for fresh eating, cooking, baking, preserves, and freezing. In spring, plants produce delicate clusters of white, bell-shaped flowers with shell-pink overtones. Foliage is glossy green through the growing season and turns a vivid orange in fall, providing strong ornamental interest. The shrub is multi-stemmed with a fine-textured appearance and generally requires minimal pruning, though it tolerates pruning well. It is also effective for attracting birds. At maturity, St. Cloud reaches approximately 4 feet tall and wide and may exhibit a slightly leggy habit with about 1 foot of clearance from the ground. Growth rate is fast, and plants can live for 20 years or more under ideal conditions. This cultivar is an interspecific hybrid and requires cross-pollination with another compatible blueberry cultivar to ensure fruit set. Recommended pollinators include Polaris, North Country, and North Sky. St. Cloud performs best in full sun to partial shade and prefers evenly moist, well-drained conditions. Like all blueberries, it requires sandy, highly acidic soil and benefits from ample organic matter such as peat moss. Plants do not tolerate standing water and may develop chlorosis in alkaline soils. Due to sensitivity to urban pollution, sheltered planting sites are recommended. In colder or exposed areas, applying a thick winter mulch around the root zone is advised. USDA Zone: 3-7 Mature Size: 4' tall by 4' across Sun: Full Sun Ripening Time: Early July Pollination: Another blueberry bush nearby is required for pollination
