Potted O'Neal Blueberry in a garden setting with other plants and pots around

O'Neal Blueberry

2 Gallon
$56.00
Skip to product information
Potted O'Neal Blueberry in a garden setting with other plants and pots around
1/4

O'Neal Blueberry

Vaccinium corymbosum 'O'Neal', Early Shouthern Highbush Season

Unrivaled Early Season Flavor • Intensely Sweet & Aromatic • “King of Southern Highbush”

$56.00
Container sizeSize guide 2 Gallon

Quality Guarantee

Free Delivery Over $199

+1 650-241-8858 (SMS ok)

Local Plant Delivery

Delivered by our local network

Current Nursery Inventory

Availability reflects current sourcing

 Living Plants

Size, shape and branching naturally vary

Description

Often called the “King of Southern Highbush,” O‘Neal Blueberry sets the standard for early-season flavor. Its large, firm berries boast an extraordinary balance of high sweetness, low acidity, and intense aromatic complexity, making it a top choice for discerning Bay Area gardeners.

  • An exceptional early-season Southern highbush celebrated for its superb eating quality and large, dark blue berry size.

  • Flavor is legendary: incredibly sweet, low in acid, and richly aromatic with nuanced fruity notes, often ranking at the very top in taste tests.

  • Berries are firm, store well, and have a beautiful dark blue color with minimal waxy bloom.

  • A vigorous grower with a semi-upright, spreading habit that requires well-aerated, acidic soil for optimal performance.

  • Semi-evergreen foliage provides year-round interest and turns attractive shades of red in fall.

  • While highly rewarding, it can be slightly more demanding regarding soil drainage compared to some other varieties.

Flavor Profile:

  • Flavor: A perfect harmony of intense sweetness, lush aroma, and virtually no tartness. Notes of vanilla, grape, and floral hints are often detected.

  • Texture: Very firm and crisp, bursting with juice.

  • Best Uses: The ultimate gourmet fresh-eating experience. Also excellent for desserts where its flavor can shine without being cooked away.

 

Quick Facts

  • Features:Flowers: Pinkish-white bell-shaped blossoms (self-fertile).Fruit: Large berries with dark blue skin and minimal bloom.Foliage: Deciduous elliptical leaves.Growth Habit: Semi-open, upright shrub
  • Mature Height: 4-6 ft
  • Mature Width: 3-5 ft
  • Growth Rate: Fas
  • Light Needs: Full sun to partial shade
  • Key Advantages:Early season harvest (first among southern highbush).Exceptional sweetness with intense aroma.Firm, juicy texture.Top-rated flavor among southern varieties
  • Fruit Characteristics:Size: 15-18mm diameter.Flavor: High sugar content (14-16° Brix) with low acidity.Texture: Firm yet juicy.Uses: Premium fresh eating, desserts
  • Landscape Uses:Commercial blueberry production.Home fruit gardens.Edible ornamental plantings
  • Care Requirements:Soil: Acidic (pH 4.5-5.5), highly aerated.Pruning: Initial 50% reduction at planting, then annual dormant pruning after establishment.Frost Protection: Recommended during spring flowering.Water: Consistent moisture with excellent drainage
  • Special Notes:Considered the "Great White Shark" of blueberries for its outstanding flavor.Requires careful soil preparation for optimal growth.Benefits from pine bark mulch.Cross-pollination with other southern highbush varieties improves fruit set

Faqs

  • Q: Is O‘Neal really the best-tasting blueberry?A: Many blueberry connoisseurs and commercial growers in warm climates consider it among the absolute best for fresh flavor due to its perfect sugar-acid balance and complex aroma. Taste is subjective, but it is consistently a top contender.
  • Q: Why is soil drainage so important for O‘Neal?A: It is particularly sensitive to waterlogged soil, which can lead to root rot. Planting in a raised bed or mound with ample organic matter (acidic compost, pine bark) is highly recommended in the Bay Area‘s often heavy soils.
  • Q: How early does it ripen?A: It is a very early variety, often one of the first to ripen, typically beginning in May in Zone 9a.

📍 Primary Delivery Area · San Francisco Bay Area

Local delivery across the Bay Area — and beyond.

San Francisco Bay Area is our primary local delivery market. Victory Nursery also serves additional California markets and selected extended delivery areas by arrangement.

Regular local delivery: San Francisco, Peninsula, South Bay, East Bay, Marin, Tracy / Mountain House and surrounding service areas.

Shop now

A good garden starts with the right size

Choose your starting point.

2 Gallon

2 Gallon

A step up from starter plants, with more root development and a fuller appearance. A practical choice for perennials, grasses, shrubs and mixed garden planting without adding much weight.

Explore 2 Gallon Plants

Gallon describes the container size, not a guaranteed plant height. Individual plants vary. Contact our nursery for current measurements.

Discover More from Victory Nursery

Blueberry Plants
Blueberry plant with ripe fruit

Blueberry Plants

Berry Plants
Berries in victory nursery

Berry Plants

Edible Garden
Edible garden plants with herbs, citrus, berries, and raised beds in a sunny Bay Area backyard

Edible Garden

Shrubs
Assorted evergreen and flowering shrubs forming a layered, year-round foundation planting in a Bay Area garden

Shrubs