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Taste Profile
Misty offers a mild, pleasant sweetness with low tartness, and its attractive pink new growth makes it as much a garden ornamental as a fruit-producing plant. Its flavor is solid but generally considered a step behind top-tier varieties like Emerald or Jewel.
History of Misty Blueberries
Misty was developed by the University of Florida's blueberry breeding program in the 1990s, part of the same Southern highbush breeding effort that produced Emerald and Jewel, aimed at bringing low-chill blueberries with good garden characteristics to warm-climate growers. Misty became particularly popular with home gardeners thanks to its attractive appearance, including striking pink-tinged new leaf growth that stands out even before the plant fruits.
Season and Availability
Misty ripens early-to-mid season for a Southern highbush variety, typically from April into May in most warm-winter growing regions, similar general timing to Emerald and Jewel.
Nutritional Value
A cup of Misty blueberries provides the typical blueberry nutritional profile, around 84 calories, 21 grams of carbohydrates, and 3.6 grams of fiber, along with the anthocyanin antioxidants found across the blueberry family regardless of specific variety.
Best Uses for Misty Blueberries
Misty's mild, pleasant flavor makes it suitable for fresh eating and general kitchen use, though it's not typically singled out as a top choice for any one specific application. Its ornamental appeal makes it just as valuable planted for looks in a home garden as for its fruit production.
Where Misty Blueberries Are Grown Today
Misty is popular specifically as a home garden and landscape plant thanks to its attractive pink new growth, in addition to being grown commercially throughout Florida and other warm-winter Southern regions. Like other Southern highbush varieties, it needs far fewer winter chill hours than Northern types and shares their semi-evergreen growth habit.
How Misty Compares to Other Blueberry Varieties
Misty's flavor generally ranks a step below top Southern highbush varieties like Emerald and Jewel, though its striking pink new growth gives it a distinct ornamental advantage that those varieties don't emphasize as strongly. It shares similar growing requirements and harvest timing with both.
Pollination Needs for Misty
Southern highbush varieties like Misty are generally self-fertile in the same way Northern highbush types are, but cross-pollination with a second Southern highbush variety blooming at a similar time still improves fruit set and berry size. Because Southern highbush types are specifically bred for low-chill, mild-winter climates, pairing Misty with another variety suited to those same conditions tends to work best, both for pollination benefits and for spreading the harvest window across a slightly longer season.
How to Choose and Store Misty Blueberries
Choose Misty blueberries that are plump and firm with a visible natural bloom, avoiding any that look shriveled or show soft spots. Store them unwashed in the refrigerator, where they'll keep for 1 to 2 weeks, and rinse only right before eating. For a full breakdown of blueberry storage, see our guide on how to store fresh picked blueberries, and if you're ever unsure whether blueberries have gone bad, check our guide on how to tell if blueberries are bad.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a Misty blueberry taste like?
Misty has a mild, pleasant sweetness with low tartness, generally considered solid but a step behind top varieties like Emerald or Jewel.
When is Misty blueberry season?
Misty ripens early-to-mid season, typically from April into May in warm-winter growing regions.
Where did the Misty blueberry come from?
Misty was developed by the University of Florida's blueberry breeding program in the 1990s.
Why is Misty popular with home gardeners?
Its striking pink-tinged new leaf growth makes it an attractive ornamental plant in addition to producing fruit.
Where is Misty grown today?
Misty is grown throughout Florida and other warm-winter Southern growing regions.
How does Misty compare to Emerald and Jewel?
Its flavor generally ranks a step below those two top Southern highbush varieties, though it offers more ornamental appeal.
How many Misty bushes should I plant?
One Misty bush can produce fruit on its own, but planting a second variety with an overlapping bloom time improves fruit set and yield through cross-pollination.
Is Misty a good choice for home gardeners?
Yes, Misty is a solid choice for home gardens, producing fruit reliably on its own while benefiting from a second variety planted nearby for improved yield.
What type of blueberry is Misty?
Misty is a Southern highbush blueberry, bred by crossing traditional Northern highbush blueberries with wild Southern blueberry species specifically to reduce the number of winter chill hours needed to fruit. This makes Southern highbush varieties like Misty viable in Florida and other mild-winter regions where standard Northern highbush blueberries would never accumulate enough winter cold to fruit reliably.
Can Misty be grown in a container?
Yes, Misty can be grown in a large container with acidic potting mix, though it will need more frequent watering than an in-ground planting and a pot roomy enough for its root system to mature.