Fruit
Rabbiteye
A tier
Rabbiteye blueberries (Vaccinium virgatum / ashei complex) suit hot southern climates where northern highbush struggles—berries medium to large with thickish skins, good shelf life, and sweet flavour when fully ripe. Pink immature fruit shows a pale “rabbit eye” ring. Needs cross-pollination and full ripeness for best taste; underripe rabbiteyes are astringent. Important in the US South and similar warm regions. Use fresh or freeze; skins can be slightly chewier than northern highbush in some lots.
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Characteristics
Preparations
Traits
Grading systems
Grades are placed along a shared scale so systems can be compared side by side.
History
Native southeastern rabbiteye blueberries were used by Indigenous peoples.
Breeding programmes developed commercial rabbiteye cultivars for the South.
Rabbiteye acreage expanded across the southern United States.
Warm-climate producers worldwide trialled rabbiteye types.