Vaccinium uliginosum

Common Names

Bog Bilberry, Bog Blueberry, Alpine Blueberry, Bog Whortleberry, Moorberry, Alpine Bilberry, Northern Bilberry

Summary

Bog bilberry is a low-growing, much-branched shrub forming dense mats or open colonies, 8–24 inches tall, with rhizomatous spread. Native to circumpolar boreal taiga and tundra, it occurs in bogs and moist copses as well as alpine habitats. Leaves are oval and leathery, 8–14 mm long; flowers are urn-shaped and white to pink; fruits are blue to black with a bluish bloom.

Growth requirements include acidic, lime-free soils (pH 3.5–6.2) with consistently moist conditions, bog garden settings, and sun to part shade, with fruiting best in sunny positions; hardy to USDA Zone 2. Propagation can occur by seed, cuttings, layering, or division of suckers. Fruits are edible raw or cooked and used in jams, jellies, pies, or dried like raisins. It also serves as wildlife forage and has potential for revegetation of mine spoils.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

4-24 inches

Spread

24 inches

Hardiness Zones

Zones 2a-8b

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full sun to partial shade.

Soil Type

Acidic, moist, well-drained soil with high organic matter, often peat-based.

Soil Drainage

Well-drained, acidic soil (pH 4.5–6.0) that remains consistently moist but not waterlogged.

Soil pH

4.5–5.7, Acidic soil

Bloom Color

White to pink

Bloom Time

Spring to Summer

Foliage Color

Blue-green, dark green

Fall Foliage Color

Orange, red, or burgundy

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Moderate

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Cuttings, Layering, Division, Underground rhizomes

Attracts Wildlife

Bees, Other pollinators, Birds