SFA Gardens and the USDA released ‘Earlibirdblue’ in 2011.  It’s a southern highbush blueberry recommended for use in homeowner plantings. This variety, tested as MS 108, resulted from a cross of G144 X US 75 made at Beltsville, Maryland, and selected by Arlan Draper and James Spiers in 1979 at Poplarville, Mississippi. G144 resulted from a cross of 11-93 (Jersey X Pioneer) X Darrow and US 75 originated from a cross of Florida 4B (native V. darrowii clone) X Bluecrop. The original seedling of Earlibirdbllue was propagated and established in field trials in AL, MS, and TX in the mid 1980’s to early 1990’s to evaluate performance. Earlibirdblue was evaluated in test plots at Mill Creek Blueberry farm near Nacogdoches, Texas for over twenty years.

Earlibirdblue was released in 2011 (HortScience May 2012 vol. 47 no. 5 536-562) and the description was as follows: A garden and landscape southern highbush blueberry suited to Texas conditions. Origin: USDA-ARS, Poplarville, MS, USDA-ARS Beltsville, MD, and Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches, TX by S. Stringer, A. Draper, J. Spiers, and D. Creech. G 144 x US 75; crossed 1977; selected 1979; tested as MS 108; introd. 2011. Fruit: medium; good color and flavor when allowed to hang for several days after turning blue; skin may tear at the base of the pedicel, making this cultivar unsuitable for shipping. Plant: moderately vigorous with a relatively short stature, 1.5–2 m; spreading growth habit; attractive, dense, green foliage; consistent productivity; easy to prune and easily integrated into the home landscape; ripens 4–8 weeks earlier than many rabbiteye blueberry cultivars; flowers develop and bloom sufficiently late to avoid most frost damage; chilling requirement ∼500 h; propagation from softwood or hardwood cuttings. 

Plants of ‘Earlibirdblue’ are moderately vigorous with a relatively short stature (4-5 ft.), have a spreading growth habit, attractive dense green foliage and are consistently productive. The relatively low plant height produces a shrub that is easy to prune and is easily integrated into home landscapes. In the gulf coast region of the U.S. ‘Earlibirdblue’ ripens early with a fruit ripening period of early to mid May, which is four to eight weeks earlier than most rabbiteye blueberry varieties grown in the region. Although early ripening, ‘Earlibirdblue’ flowers develop and bloom sufficiently late to avoid most frost damage and associated yield reductions.

There are a couple of reasons this unique variety was released as a homeowner variety – and not a commercial variety. ‘Earlibirdblue’ really needs to hang a little longer on the bush than other varieties to fully sweeten up. Berries are tart if picked too early.  In fact, prior to releasing this cultivar, there was some resistance to the release.  In fact, I remember Arlan Draper suggesting we name it Texas Tart – which is not exactly the best name for a blueberry.  Commercial growers are quick to harvest berries the moment they’re “blue”. ‘Earlibirdblue’ needs to hang on the bush a few extra days to truly sweeten. Plus, when picked there’s a slight tear problem at the base of the pedicel – and that could be a serious commercial issue but it’s not that important for the homeowner. The bottom line is that we now have a short stature, very early ripening blueberry variety that has produced well consistently for the past twenty years in our region.

One reason for Earlibirdblue’s consistent production is that it doesn’t bloom that early.  In fact, here’s a long ago (03-29-2010) image of the plant at Mill Creek Farms which shows the shorter stature and the lateness of bloom which helps the variety avoid a late frost.

The exact chilling requirement of ‘Earlibirdblue’ is estimated to be approximately 500 to 550 hours less than 45F. Although ‘Earlibirdblue’ may be somewhat self-fertile, productivity of southern highbush blueberries are enhanced when bushes are interplanted among other southern highbush cultivars having a similar bloom period. When planted in rows, plants of ‘Earlibirdblue’ should be spaced 5-6 feet apart in well-drained soils of modest acidity, and plants benefit by a generous application of pine bark mulch, particularly in the early years of establishment.

‘Earlibirdblue’ is expected to be a valuable addition to blueberry cultivars grown for utilization as part of an edible landscape.We recommend that homeowners situate ‘Earliirdblue’ plants in full sun and provide for strong drainage for the root system. A good sandy loam with composted pine bark fines or peat moss mixed into the top 1′ of soil and then mulched a few inches deep in pine bark. If possible, plant in a raised bed. While daily drip irrigation during the dry season is recommended, timely sprinkler irrigation is equally beneficial.

Scuttelaria suffrutescens, the pink-flowering skullcap from Mexico has surprised Southern gardeners with its charm and durability. This is a neatly mounding sub-shrub to two feet tall and about that wide with fine leaves and twigs.  It’s a bright pink addition to the front of any border or as specimens massed. P.C. Standley describes the type specimen from Coahuila, Sierra de la Silla near Monterrey, as a small shrub.  While more popular in the gardens of central and west Texas, this plant deserves greater use in the dry, sunny gardens of East Texas with Zones 8 and 9 most suitable.  We have found that good specimens always elicit some kind of urge to pet the plant – probably because the mound appears and happens to be very firm to the touch.  The plant has a bright show in May and early June and the blooming period persists throughout the summer and fall under decent horticulture.

There are a number of pink-flowering forms of this species now appearing in mostly western nurseries but the form that we are displaying in the Arboretum carries an interesting history. It was found during an expedition to Mexico with Lynn Lowrey and Ray Jordan in October 1987.  From the Friends of the Arboretum Newsletter # 5, the chronicle of an expedition to the San Madre Oriental mountains I wrote that, “after backtracking east to the main road that runs between Montemerellos and Monterrey, we made one last side excursion to Chipinque.  The entire log of that trip can be found here:

http://sfagardens.sfasu.edu/images/files/Documents/Newsletters/lh%20October%201987.pdf

. . . and I just noticed that some of the pages are out of order!  To be corrected later.  The mountain town and associated forest is home for thousands of Mexican redbuds, numerous oaks, and a forest floor of salvias and penstemons.  On one hike, a large-flowered Phaseolus vine was spotted, and, according to Lynn, the best find of the trip, a skullcap colony, Scuttelaria species.  This rhizomatous, perennial herb made a strong attractive ground cover in a few sun-lit forest pockets.”

Actually, as I remember the find, I said, “Lynn, what’s that plant with the pink flowers,” and Lynn responded, “what flowers?” Amazingly, I came to learn that Lynn was red color blind and could only discern reds, pinks and greens at close distances.

This particular trip had as a goal primarily the collection of oak and other fall seeds; in the case of the Scuttelaria, a few cuttings were taken and rooted easily at SFA.  We have found that propagation is easy any time of the year with mist and plants should be moved soon after the first root initials make their appearance.  Leaving cuttings in mist after rooting too long can result in dead cuttings.

This is full sun plant for the South and should be give sharp drainage. A raised bed is perfect.  In the Arboretum, we have had good success with dry-loving plants by using sandy loam berms and a thin layer of crushed decomposed granite as a mulch.  The plant responds to fertilizer.  Some attention should be given the plants during the first two establishment years and we have not found the plant to be particularly rhizomatous, behaving instead like a green stiff mound throughout the year.  Most surprising, the plant survived the December 1989 dip to zero degrees F at SFA Gardens.

In a recent conversation with Tim Kiphart, SFA Horticulture alum, I learned the following. In 1990, Tim and Pat McNeal, Horticulturist from Austin, Texas, returned to the very same location as our original find. From a batch of seedlings, Tim selected a deeper pink/rose colored form and he later provided Tony Avent of Plants Delight, Raleigh, NC.  The only cultivar name I’ve ever seen is ‘Texas Rose,’ a name coined by Tony Avent.  Tim feels that seedlings result in better plants with better form than cutting grown.  Cuttings do root easy and grow off well.  As a small globe here and there, or as a very low statured ground cover, this is an interesting plant useful in the dry landscape.