Madeiran whortleberry
Vaccinium padifolium
Family: Ericaceae
What it is like
A shrub or small tree. It can be 2 m high. The leaves are sword shaped and 4 cm long by 1.2 cm wide. The leaves remain on the tree for a long time. They turn purple-red. The flowers are in stalked groups. They are bell shaped and green with a pink tinge. The fruit are round blue berries 8-12 mm across.
Where it is found
It is native to Madiera Island in the mountains between 300-900 m altitude. It grows in temperate and subtropical regions.
Countries/locations it is found in
Atlantic, Britain, Europe, Madeira, Mediterranean, Portugal
How it is used for food
Edible parts
Fruit
How it is grown
It can be grown from cuttings of firm shoots of the current year's growth.