Blueberry Duke

Blueberry 'Duke' is one of the most reliable early-season blueberries for New Zealand gardens, producing heavy crops of large, firm berries with a delicious mildly sweet flavour. As a Northern Highbush Blueberry, 'Duke' flowers in mid-spring before ripening its fruit from November through December, making it one of the first blueberries of the season to harvest.

Renowned for its exceptional productivity, 'Duke' produces consistent crops year after year. The berries are firm with excellent keeping qualities, making them ideal for eating fresh, adding to breakfast bowls, baking into muffins and desserts, or freezing for later use.

In spring, the shrub is covered in delicate white bell-shaped flowers that attract bees and other beneficial pollinators. Fresh green foliage provides an attractive backdrop through summer before transforming into vibrant shades of orange, red and gold in autumn, giving this blueberry ornamental appeal long after the fruit has been harvested.

For the heaviest crops, plant 'Duke' alongside another Northern Highbush Blueberry variety to improve cross-pollination and maximise fruit production.