Wild Rabbiteye
accinium spp. – Chesed Ranch Wild Selection
Status: Active
Location: Chesed Ranch Berry Patch
Planted: 2026 (Transplanted and propagated from Existing Wild Population)
Source: Native Population – Chesed Ranch Pasture
Plant ID: CR-BLU-005
Nature’s Recommendation
Most of the plants at Chesed Ranch were selected from local nurseries, nursery catalogs, research trials, or recommendations from other growers.
These blueberries were selected by the land itself.
Long before there was an orchard, berry patch, irrigation system, buildings or a home, wild blueberries were growing throughout the property. They survived droughts, tropical storms, heat, humidity, poor soils, and winter freezes without fertilizer, irrigation, pruning, or protection.
As we developed the berry patch, we began paying closer attention to these native plants. If they had already proven capable of thriving under our exact conditions, their genetics were worth preserving.
Rather than moving the original plants, we selected several of the healthiest specimens and propagated them through air-layering and cuttings rooted in our mist propagation bed.
The resulting plants represent a direct genetic link to the wild blueberries that have been growing on the property long before Chesed Ranch existed.
Unlike named cultivars that were developed elsewhere, these plants are uniquely tied to this piece of land.
Quick Facts
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Planting Date | 2026 |
| Original Source | Wild Population on Chesed Ranch |
| Propagation Method | Air Layering & Mist Bed Cuttings |
| Selection Type | Local Wild Genetics |
| Mulch Type | Pine Bark Fines & Arborist Mulch |
| Irrigation | Drip |
| Soil Type | Acidified Organic Mix |
Why We Chose the Wild Selection
The easiest plants to overlook are often the ones already growing around us.
When we purchased the property, much of the land was heavily overgrown. In 2019 when we bought the property, we hired a forestry mulcher to clear large portions of the property so we could better understand the terrain, identify trees worth preserving, and begin the process of converting much of the land into pasture.
What we didn’t realize at the time was that hidden beneath the brush were countless native plants that had been quietly thriving for years.
One of the trees we chose to preserve was a mature Southern Magnolia located in what would eventually become one of our pastures. In the spring of 2021, while walking the property, I noticed a lone blueberry plant growing beneath its canopy.
Rather than disturbing it, Michelle and I decided to see what it would do.
That summer it rewarded us with a surprisingly heavy crop of berries. After harvest, we carefully cleaned up around the plant, removed competing vegetation, and gave it a little room to breathe. Beyond that, we largely left it alone.
Year after year it continued to produce.
No irrigation.
No fertilizer.
No soil amendments.
No special care.
Just a wild blueberry growing beneath a magnolia tree in a North Florida pasture.
As the ranch evolved and livestock were introduced, we realized how special that plant had become. In 2025, when the pastures were completed and cattle and goats arrived, we installed a protective cattle panel enclosure around the magnolia to ensure the blueberry would survive and continue producing.
By 2026, after several seasons of exceptional performance, we decided it was time to preserve its genetics.
Rather than moving the original plant, we propagated new plants through air-layering and cuttings rooted in our mist propagation bed. The resulting plants are direct descendants of a blueberry that has already proven itself under the exact conditions found at Chesed Ranch.
While we don’t yet know how these selections will compare to named cultivars such as Austin, Brightwell, Tifblue, or Delite, we do know something equally important:
They belong here.
In many ways, these plants represent the spirit of Chesed Ranch itself—not imported from somewhere else, but discovered, nurtured, and preserved from the land we call home.
Plant Information
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Planting Date | 2026 |
| Original Source | Wild Population on Chesed Ranch |
| Propagation Method | Air Layering & Mist Bed Cuttings |
| Selection Type | Local Wild Genetics |
| Mulch Type | Pine Bark Fines & Arborist Mulch |
| Irrigation | Drip |
| Soil Type | Acidified Organic Mix |
Location in Orchard
📍 Berry Patch
The wild selections are planted alongside the named rabbiteye cultivars where they can benefit from improved growing conditions while still maintaining their connection to the property’s native genetics.
Annual Growth Log
2026
Transplant Date: June 2026
Observations
- Carefully relocated from established wild population.
- Minimal transplant shock observed.
- Demonstrating strong adaptation to local conditions.
- Being evaluated for fruit quality, production, and growth habit.
Photos
(Insert transplant photos)
Weather & Climate Summary
Season Metrics
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Chill Hours | TBD |
| GDD | TBD |
| Rainfall | TBD |
| Last Freeze | TBD |
| Peak Summer Temp | TBD |
Performance at Chesed Ranch
Strengths
- Native to the property
- Exceptional adaptation to local climate
- Successfully propagated from wild parent plants
- Proven survival without intervention
- Preserves local genetics
- Potential source of future propagation material
Challenges
- Unknown long-term production potential
- Variable fruit size and quality
- Less predictable growth habit than named cultivars
- Performance still being evaluated
Overall Assessment
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Perhaps the most uniquely “Chesed Ranch” blueberries in the entire berry patch.
Looking Forward
Many growers spend years searching for plants that are perfectly adapted to their location.
These blueberries already were.
As the berry patch matures, we are excited to compare the wild selections against the named cultivars and see how they perform under managed conditions.
Will they produce larger fruit?
Smaller fruit?
Will they ripen earlier or later?
Will they prove more resilient than the cultivated varieties?
Only time will tell.
What we do know is that these plants were thriving here before Chesed Ranch existed, and with a little care they will hopefully continue thriving long into the future.
Related Resources
Related Plants
- Austin Blueberry
- Brightwell Blueberry
- Tifblue Blueberry
- Delite Blueberry
| Variety | Apr | May | Jun | Jul |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austin | ███ | ███ | ||
| Brightwell | ███ | ███ | ||
| Tifblue | ███ | ███ | ||
| Delite | ███ | ███ | ||
| Chesed Ranch Wild Selection | ███ | ███ | ███ |