Vaccinium myrtillus (Whortleberry, Bilberry)
Botanical Information
| Family | Ericaceae |
| Genus | Vaccinium |
| Species | myrtillus |
| Synonyms | Vaccinium myrtillus oreophilum, Vaccinium oreophilum |
| Category | Woody |
| Type | Shrub (deciduous) |
| Origin | Britain, southern Iceland, and eastern Spain. |
Details
| USDA Hardiness Zone | 3a - 7b |
| USDA Hardiness Ref. | |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone | 3 - 7 |
| Canada Hardiness Ref. | |
| RHS Hardiness Zone | H7 - H5 |
| RHS Hardiness Ref. | |
| Temperature (°C) | -40 to -10 |
| Temperature (°F) | -40 to 14 |
| Height | 0.2 m |
| Spread | 0.3 m |
| Flowering Period | April, May, June |
Description and Growing Information
| General Description | A shorter deciduous fruiting bush. The flowers bloom in spring and produce the navy blue bilberries by September. |
| Shape | Low, open-growing. |
| Propagation | Cuttings taken in June will grow well, especially under misted conditions. Also propagated by seed. |
| Cultivation | Requires a moist but freely-draining lime free acidic soil with a pH in the range of 4.5 to 6. |
| Pests | Generally has few drastic pest and disease issues. It can however suffer from: blueberry maggot, blueberry stem borer, cranberry fruitworm, cherry fruitworm, Japanese beetle, leafroller, leafhopper and aphids. |
| Notable Specimens | Carn Brea Castle, Carnkie, Redruth, United Kingdom. |
| Habitat | Woodland garden, sunny borders or in dappled shade. |
| Bark/Stem Description | New growth is a semi-glossy green turning to a medium brown with age. Stems show some red colour in the winter. |
| Flower/Leaf Bud Description | Tiny brownish-red buds, 2-3 mm long and 1-2 mm wide. |
| Leaf Description | Dark blue-green foliage in the summer, changing to crimson-bronze in autumn. Simple leaf, 0.75-2 cm long, 1-1.25 cm wide in an elliptical/ovate shape. |
| Fruit Description | Dark blue, sometimes purple-black berries that appear in mid-summer, 5-10 mm across. They have a sweet and acidic taste when eaten raw. |
Photographs
Vaccinium myrtillus, form. Carn Brea Castle, Carnkie, Redruth, United Kingdom.
Vaccinium myrtillus, leaf. Carn Brea Castle, Carnkie, Redruth, United Kingdom.
Vaccinium myrtillus, flower. Carn Brea Castle, Carnkie, Redruth, United Kingdom.
