Bog bilberry
Vaccinium uliginosum

Family: Ericaceae

What it is like

A small shrub. It has an open sprawling habit and forms loose mats. It grows 30-60 cm tall. It loses its leaves during the winter. The young branches are a yellowish-green and rounded. The leaves are 8-12 mm long and 3-8 mm wide. The leaves have prominent veins underneath. The leaves turn bright red in the autumn. The flowers are pale pink. They can occur singly or in clusters in the axils of leaves. The fruit are large, juicy purple/black berries. They are 5-12 mm across. They are edible.

They have health benefits.

Where it is found

It is a cold temperate plant. It grows in arctic bogs. It suits moist conditions with sphagnum moss. It suits cold climates. In north China it grows between 900-2,300 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Alaska, Arctic, Armenia, Asia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Balkans, Belarus, Britain, Bulgaria, Canada, Caucasus, Central Asia, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Europe, Faroe Islands, Finland, France, Georgia, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Mediterranean, Mongolia, North America, Norway, Poland, Russia, Scandinavia, Siberia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, Türkiye, Ukraine, USA

How it is used for food

The berries are fermented to make an alcoholic drink. Caution: Alcohol is a cause of cancer. The berries are also used to colour wine. The fruit are eaten raw occasionally. They are used for jams, jellies and pies. They are also frozen and dried. CAUTION: Large numbers can cause giddiness and headaches.

They are a popular fruit.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

It can be grown by seed or from rooted suckers.

The berries can be beaten off the bush and the leaves winnowed away.

Its other names

Local names

Alpine blueberry, Barjanska kopišnica, Blokkebaer, Bog blueberry, Galubika, Golubnika, Gonobobel, Gonobel, Juapukka, Lurji motsvi, Mikkelsbaer, Moorberry, Pijanica, Sinikas, Sinine marja, Sinya borovinka, Western Blueberry, Western huckleberry, Whortleberry

Synonyms

Vaccinium gaultherioides Bigelow; Vaccinium occidentale A. Gray; Vaccinium pedris Holub.; Vaccinium pubescens Worsmk. ex Homem.;