Austin Rabbiteye Blueberry Bush
Vaccinium ashei ‘Austin’
- Stay Protected with Plant Sentry ™
Austin Rabbiteye Blueberry Bush - #1 Container is backordered and will ship as soon as it is back in stock.
Plant Sentry™
Plant Sentry™
Plant Sentry is designed to protect both consumers and the nursery trade from invasive plant pests and diseases. Sites that display the Plant Sentry protection badge are protected from consumers buying and nurseries shipping material carrying invasive pests and diseases.
This proprietary eCommerce software prevents the shipment of a restricted plant to each state. The Plant Sentry system includes a shipment certification program. The Plant Sentry Compliance Officer works closely with NatureHills.com and each nursery or fulfillment center to ensure only compliant plants are sold to customers.
Click Here to learn more
Delivery and Shipping
Delivery and Shipping
Shipping
To obtain a more accurate shipment time-frame, simply enter your zip code in the “Find Your Growing Zone” box to the right. Our plants are grown all over the country and lead time on items may be different because of this. Once your order is placed, you will also receive the specific shipment time-frame information as part of your order confirmation. Once an item ships, you will receive shipment notification and tracking numbers, so you can follow along while your plant travels to your doorstep. We use FedEx, UPS, or USPS at our discretion.
Due to winter weather we have put a hold on shipping to the areas shown below in grey. You can still order now and we will ship the plant to you during an appropriate time for your zone.
Standard Shipping Rates
At Nature Hills we handle, package and ship the products you order with the utmost care to ensure healthy delivery. Shipping and handling charges are calculated based on the tables below. Please note that some items include an additional handling surcharge, these will be noted on the item's product page.
| From | To | S&H |
|---|---|---|
| $0 | $19.99 | $24.99 |
| $20 | $49.99 | $29.99 |
| $50 | $69.99 | $34.99 |
| $70 | $99.99 | $39.99 |
| $100 | $129.99 | $44.99 |
| $130 | $149.99 | $48.99 |
| $150 | $150+ | Approx 28% |
Click here to see our full rates
Understanding Plant Options
Nature Hills offers plants in two main formats:
- Container Plants: Grown in pots with soil, sized by container volume and plant age
- Bare Root Plants: Dormant plants without soil, sized by height measurements
Container Plant Sizes
Container sizes indicate plant age and growing capacity rather than liquid volume equivalents. Our containers follow industry-standard nursery "trade gallon" specifications, which differ from standard liquid gallon measurements.
Young Plants (6 months to 18 months old)
| Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 2" x 2" x 3" | 0.18 - 0.21 dry quarts | 0.20 - 0.23 dry liters |
| 4" Container | 0.31 - 0.87 dry quarts | 0.35 - 0.96 dry liters |
| 4.5" Container | 0.65 dry quarts | 0.72 dry liters |
| 6" Container | 1.4 dry quarts | 1.59 dry liters |
| 1 Quart | 1 dry quart | 1.1 dry liters |
| 5.5" Container | 1.89 dry quarts | 2.08 dry liters |
Established Plants (18 months to 2.5 years old)
| Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Quart | 2 dry quarts | 2.2 dry liters |
| #1 Container | 2.26 - 3.73 dry quarts | 2.49 - 4.11 dry liters |
| 5" x 5" x 12" | 3.5 - 4.3 dry quarts | 3.85 - 4.74 dry liters |
Mature Plants (2-4 years old)
| Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| #2 Container | 1.19 - 1.76 dry gallons | 5.24 - 7.75 dry liters |
| #3 Container | 2.15 - 2.76 dry gallons | 8.14 - 12.16 dry liters |
Large Plants (3-5 years old)
| Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| #5 Container | 2.92 - 4.62 dry gallons | 12.86 - 20.35 dry liters |
| #6 Container | 5.25 - 6.01 dry gallons | 23.12 - 26.42 dry liters |
| #7 Container | 5.98 - 6.53 dry gallons | 26.34 - 28.76 dry liters |
Bare Root Plants
Bare root plants are sold by height from the root system to the top of the plant. Plants may exceed minimum height requirements.
Common Sizes:
- Trees: 1 foot, 2 feet, 3 feet, 4 feet, 5 feet, 6 feet
- Shrubs & Perennials: 1 foot, 18 inches, 2 feet
Important Notes
Container Volume Specifications
- Trade Gallon Standard: Our containers follow industry-standard "trade gallon" specifications established by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI Z60.1) for nursery stock
- Volume Variations: Actual soil volume may vary due to plant root systems and growing medium settlement
- Age Indicators: Container size primarily indicates plant age and maturity rather than liquid volume equivalents
Growing Conditions
- Plant size can vary based on variety and growing conditions
- Container size helps indicate plant maturity and establishment level
- Larger containers generally mean more established root systems and faster landscape establishment
Seasonal Availability
- Bare root plants are available seasonally when dormant
- Container plants are available throughout the growing season
- Specific varieties may have limited availability in certain sizes
Questions?
For questions about specific plant sizes or availability, please contact our plant experts who can help you choose the right size for your landscape needs.
Plant Highlights
Austin Rabbiteye Blueberry Bush highlights at a glance!
Specifications
Specifications
-
Brand
-
Botanical Name
-
Growing Zones
-
Mature Height
-
Mature Spread
-
Sun ExposureFull Sun, Partial Shade
-
Moisture
-
Soil
-
Growth RateMedium
-
Flower Color
-
Fall Color
-
Pollinator Friendly
-
Pollinator Required
-
Fragrant
-
Pruning Time
-
Bloom PeriodEarly Spring
-
Harvest Time
Growing Zones
A huge berry bush with plenty of delicious fruit, the Austin Rabbiteye Blueberry Bush (Vaccinium ashei 'Austin') will certainly leave a mark on your orchard with this sheer size! The large shrubs fill out in lovely foliage that becomes bedecked in tiny white blossoms that the bumblebees and native bees go crazy for!
Austin Blueberry bushes are semi-evergreen in warmer climates, but may drop foliage in colder zones but not before offering some reddish fall color first! Rabbiteye Blueberries are fantastic for southern growers throughout USDA planting zones 7 to 9!
The name comes from the pink ripening fruit, which is reminiscent of a pink-eyed rabbit. The late spring to early summer crop of large, Huckleberry-flavored fruit starts pink before turning dark blue! It is easy to pick, firm, and flavorful! Eat these anti-oxidant-rich treats fresh, in sauces and preserves, baked, or whizzed up into a morning smoothie!
These Blueberry bushes are hardy and can grow larger than most Blueberry bushes - topping out at 10-15 feet in height and spread to 6-10 feet wide. Giving you plenty of delicious berries to harvest as early as June!
You'll get a bigger harvest when planting Austin with other Austin Blueberry bushes, or mix in some Climax, Premier Blueberries, and Brightwell Blueberry bushes for extra cross-pollination! Check with your local County Extension Office for which will do best in your area!
Planting and Application:
Rabbiteye Blueberry are superb fruiting hedges and specimen plants! Their spring blooms, summer fruit, and fall color make them ideal for use as double-duty edible landscaping! Plant a hedge along the property line with its pollinator species for a bird-friendly berry patch that also provides screening and property definition!
Austin Rabbiteye bushes are easy to grow and are ideal for the southern home orchard! Create groupings or linear orchards by using these taller fruiting shrubs as a backdrop for Victory Garden or as a unique mixer in the mixed shrub border and windbreak! Keep the birds at bay by planting extra bushes or including their other favorites like Aronia, or Raspberries for a shelterbelt everyone will love!
- Large Firm Sweet Berries
- Lovely Pollinator-Friendly White Spring Blossoms
- Big Crop of Early Season Fruit
- Semi-Evergreen or Great Fall Color
- Hedges, Specimens, Edible Landscaping & Mixed Landscape Use
#ProPlantTips for Care
Blueberry bushes love sandy, slightly acidic, well-drained soils and Austin can grow quite tall in optimal planting conditions! These fruiting bushes also appreciate locations in Full Sun for the most fruit, planted in an area that is high in organic matter and is mulched well with 3-4 inches of arborist bark chips. Give new shrubs regular water until they're established, then some supplemental moisture during the hot summers. Like other evergreen shrubs, Austin also appreciates a good drink before winter sets in.
Prune this Blueberry bush in the late winter or very early spring to open the tops and interior of the bushes for good sun and for the best fruiting.
- Full Sun Fruit Shrubs
- Well-Drained Acidic Soil
- Regular Moisture & Appreciates Mulch
- Prune Late Winter/Early Spring
- Requires 450-550 Chill Hours
The Austin Rabbiteye Blueberry bush is a big and flavorful fruit bush for your garden this year! Order yours today at NatureHills.com before this great variety is gone!
