Arandano, Arrayan, Madrono
Vaccinium consanguineum
Family: Ericaceae
What it is like
A tall evergreen shrub. It grows 1.2 m tall. It has stiff, ridged branches. It forms a compact bushy shrub. The young stems can be red or purple. The leaves are sword shaped and 4-8 cm long. They have shallow teeth. The flowers are cylinder shaped and 5-8 mm long. They are white with tinges of red. The fruit are round and 5-8 mm across. They are green when young but turn dark red then black as they ripen.
Where it is found
A temperate plant. It can tolerate some frost.
Countries/locations it is found in
Britain, Central America, Costa Rica, Europe, Mexico, North America, Panama
How it is used for food
The fruit are edible but have an unattractive taste.
Edible parts
Fruit
How it is grown
It can be grown from seed or cuttings.