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Blueberry 'Takes the Cake'

3-Gallon

Height: 3-4 feet tall.
Spread: 3-4 feet.
Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade.
Hardiness Zone: 6a.
Other Names: Vaccinium corymbosum 'Takes the Cake'

Description:
A compact and highly productive southern highbush blueberry variety, 'Takes the Cake' is known for its large, sweet berries and exceptional ornamental value. This shrub features dense, glossy green foliage that takes on vibrant red and purple hues in fall, making it a standout in both edible and decorative landscapes. It is perfect for container gardening, small gardens, and mixed borders.

Edible Qualities:
Blueberry 'Takes the Cake' produces large, firm berries with a sweet, mild flavor. The fruit ripens in mid to late summer and is excellent for fresh eating and culinary use.

The fruit is most often used in the following ways:
- Fresh Eating
- Baking
- Smoothies
- Preserves
- Freezing

Features & Attributes:
Blueberry 'Takes the Cake' boasts lush, deep green foliage in spring and summer, transitioning to brilliant shades of red and burgundy in fall. In early spring, it produces clusters of small, white, bell-shaped flowers that attract pollinators. Its compact growth habit makes it ideal for container planting and decorative edible landscapes.
This is a semi-evergreen shrub with a bushy, rounded growth habit. It is self-pollinating but benefits from being planted near another blueberry variety for increased yields.

Aside from its primary use as an edible, Blueberry 'Takes the Cake' is suitable for the following landscape applications:
- Edible Hedges
- Container Growing
- Home Gardens
- Ornamental Landscaping

Planting & Growing:
Blueberry 'Takes the Cake' will grow to be about 3-4 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 3-4 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 1-2 feet from the ground. It grows at a moderate rate and, under ideal conditions, can be expected to live for 30 years or more.

This shrub thrives in full sun to partial shade and well-drained, acidic soil. It requires consistent moisture, particularly during fruit development, and benefits from an annual layer of mulch to retain soil moisture and regulate temperature. Light pruning after fruiting helps maintain its shape and productivity.

Additional Characteristics:
- Mid to Late Season Ripening
- Self-Pollinating (Improved Yields with Cross-Pollination)
- High-Yielding
- Compact Growth Habit, Great for Containers
- Excellent Fall Foliage Color