Hi Marcy,

Yes, unless a plant is completely dormant, you'll want to protect it rather than putting it directly outdoors in the winter.

A Pink Lemonade Blueberry, though, will likely need to live its life under protection in our region.  (Your brother provided you a horticultural challenge)! 

Blueberries face several challenges here, including soil pH and climate challenges.

Blueberries require a soil pH of 4.5-5.5; most soils in this part of the state have pH of at least 6, and often much higher, up to 8.5.  Because our soils contain a lot of carbonates--chemicals that make soil pH stable--it's very difficult to adjust a high pH downward with fertilizers or amendments.  Heavy amendment (replacing at least 50% of the soil, or more) with specialty products (like sphagnum moss) could potentially make a garden bed that could accommodate them.  

Even in the right soil, our low humidity is another problem; the plants will struggle with a "high-and-dry" climate like ours, with intense UV light and dry air.  Pink Lemonade in particular is hardy only to 0 degrees F, making it likely to sustain damage through the winter (and thus to flower infrequently, rarely if ever producing berries).

I can't recommend that you attempt to grow it in the ground outdoors.

However, you may be able to succeed in a pot, if you're committed!  It would need a large container (at least 18" across and a couple of feet deep).  Most importantly, it would need a place where it could have a mild winter--blueberries do need seasons to remain healthy, just not seasons as dramatic as those which naturally occur here.  A greenhouse is one obvious option, but a well-lit, unheated garage could to the trick too.  In the summer, the container should be moved outside.  Keeping it cool and well watered will be paramount to success--blueberries do not like dry air nor dry soil!

More information about care of blueberries in containers can be found from our Extension colleagues in Maryland: https://extension.umd.edu/resource/growing-blueberries-containers/

I hope this is helpful!

Cordially,

John