Low-bush cranberry, Mountain cranberry
Vaccinium minus

Family: Ericaceae

What it is like

A small evergreen and low shrub. It grows 3-8 cm high. It has long rootstocks. It spreads close to the ground. The leaves are small, round compact and leathery. The leaves are dark green and shiny on the upper surface and more pale and with black dots underneath. The leaves over-winter under the snow. In autumn the leaves turn dark reddish-brown. The flowers are small and pink. They droop in clusters of 2 to 5. The fruit are bright red berries 5-8 mm across.

Where it is found

It is a cold temperate plant. It grows in the moist tundra in Alaska.

Countries/locations it is found in

Alaska, North America, Russia, Siberia, USA

How it is used for food

The fruit have a sour taste.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Kimminait, Kitmik

Synonyms

Rhodococcum minus Avror.; Vaccinium vitis-idaea subsp. minus (Lodd., G. Lodd. & W. Lodd.) Hulten; Vaccinium vitis-idaea var. minus Lodd., G. Lodd. & W. Lodd.;