Pink Icing® Blueberry — Vaccinium corymbosum 'ZF06-079'

Pink Icing® Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum 'ZF06-079') pairs colorful foliage with flavorful summer fruit. New leaves emerge in bright shades of pink before maturing to glossy blue-green, with turquoise tones developing in winter where foliage is retained. White flowers in late spring give way to large, dark blue berries by midsummer.

This compact, self-pollinating blueberry grows best in full sun and rich, moist, acidic, well-drained soil. Its listed winter chill requirement is approximately 500 hours, an important consideration when choosing a planting location.

Growing details

• Plant type: Compact fruiting shrub
• Listed height: 3–4 feet
• Listed spread: 2–3 feet
• Spacing: Approximately 2.5 feet apart
• Listed USDA hardiness zones: 5–8
• Light: Full sun to part sun; best growth and fruiting in full sun
• Soil: Rich, moist, acidic and well-drained
• Flowers: White in late spring
• Fruit: Large, flavorful dark blue berries in summer
• Foliage: Pink new growth, blue-green mature leaves and seasonal turquoise tones
• Pollination: Self-pollinating
• Listed chill requirement: Approximately 500 hours
• Cultivar: 'ZF06-079'

Care and garden use

Water regularly and mulch to help retain soil moisture. Maintain acidic soil; high-pH conditions can cause leaf yellowing. Prune as needed in late winter. This shrub has moderate maintenance needs.

Use in edible gardens, borders, foundation beds, low hedges or containers. Provide ample root space, drainage and an acidic growing medium in pots. Allow room for its listed mature spread and choose sites with adequate light for fruiting.

Image credits: Famartin, Closeup of blueberries along the shore of Spring Lake in Berlin, New York, August 25, 2013, CC BY-SA 3.0; Renée Johnson, Moon Hill Farm, CC BY-SA 2.0.