Bog Bilberry
Vaccinium uliginosum
Family: Ericaceae
What it is like
Vaccinium uliginosum is a deciduous Shrub growing to 0.8 m (2ft 7in). See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 2. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects. Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid soils and can grow in very acid soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist or wet soil.
Height (m): 0.8
Where it is found
Bogs and moist copses in mountains and moorlands of northern Britain.
Northern Europe, including Britain, through northern Asia to Japan. Northern N. America.
Conservation Status:
Countries/locations it is found in
Alaska, Arctic, Asia, Australia, Belarus, Britain, Bulgaria, Canada, Central Asia, China, Czech Republic, Estonia, Europe, Finland, France, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Lithuania, Macedonia, Mongolia, North America, Poland, Russia, Siberia, Spain, Turkey, USA,
How it is used
Food
Rating: 3
Fruit - raw or cooked. Juicy and sweet. The fruit can also be dried and used like raisins. A reasonable source of vitamin C. The fruit is about 6mm in diameter. Some caution is advised, see the notes above on toxicity. A tea is made from the leaves and dried fruits.
Tea: the various herb teas that can be used in place of tea, plus the genuine article.
Medicine
Rating: 1
Antiseptic, astringent, carminative, hypnotic and hypoglycaemic. An infusion of the leaves and sugar have been given to a mother a few days after childbirth in order to help her regain her strength.
Antidiarrhoeal: Provides symptomatic relief for diarrhoea. Also see Astringent.
Antiseptic: Preventing sepsis, decay or putrefaction, it destroys or arrests the growth of micro-organisms.
Astringent: Produces contraction in living tissue, reducing the flow of secretions and discharges of blood, mucus, diarrhoea etc.
Birthing aid: Used in facilitating birth, but not just to cause uterine contrctions.
Carminative: Reduces flatulence and expels gas from the intestines.
Hypnotic: Induces sleep.
Hypoglycaemic: Reduces the levels of sugar in the blood.
Vitamin C: Plants good for their vitamin C content
Other
Rating: 0
How it is grown
Requires a moist or wet lime free soil, preferring one that is rich in peat or a light loamy soil with added leaf-mould. Prefers a very acid soil with a pH in the range of 4.5 to 6, plants soon become chlorotic when lime is present. Grows well in a bog garden. Succeeds in full sun or light shade though it fruits better in a sunny position. Requires shelter from strong winds. Dislikes root disturbance, plants are best grown in pots until being planted out in their permanent positions. This species is closely allied to V. myrtillus. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus.
Propagating it: Seed - sow late winter in a greenhouse in a lime-free potting mix and only just cover the seed. Stored seed might require a period of up to 3 months cold stratification. Another report says that it is best to sow the seed in a greenhouse as soon as it is ripe. Once they are about 5cm tall, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a lightly shaded position in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 5 - 8cm with a heel, August in a frame. Slow and difficult. Layering in late summer or early autumn. Another report says that spring is the best time to layer. Takes 18 months. Division of suckers in spring or early autumn.
Best place to grow: Bog Garden; Cultivated Beds;
Habit: Shrub
Hardiness: 0-0
Growth:
Soil: Light (sandy), medium
Shade: Semi-shade, no shade
Moisture: Moist, wet
Things to keep in mind
The fruit can cause headaches if they are eaten in large quantities. This is probably the result of infestation by a fungus.
Its other names
Local names
Bog blueberry, Whortleberry, Moorberry, Alpine blueberry, Pijanica, Sinikas, Sinya borovinka,