Vaccinium vitis-idaea - Organic Red Bilberry

The Red Bilberry, in Latin Vaccinum vitis-idaea, is a small bush that thrives in partial shade and acidic, moist soil. It is both ornamental, medicinal, and edible. With a wide and low habit, well-branched, and dressed in dense foliage that persists throughout the year, it forms an elegant ground cover. In spring, and sometimes again in summer, its vegetation is adorned with small bell-shaped flowers in white-pink shades that are very attractive. These flowers will give rise to small round berries of a bright red colour, the bilberries, highlighted by the beautiful foliage. These fruits, with a tart flavour, are traditionally consumed dried or cooked, in jams or jellies to accompany meat and game dishes. Plant from Organic Agriculture.

The bilberry belongs to the heath family, just like blueberries, heathers, and rhododendrons. The red bilberry, in Latin Vaccinium vitis-idaea, also known as the mountain bilberry, grows naturally on acidic and peaty soils, in wooded areas of mountainous regions in northern Europe, North America, and even Antarctica. In France, bilberries are mainly found in the Jura and the Alps, where they are protected. It is a slow-growing bush, extremely cold-resistant, with evergreen foliage and a low, spreading habit, which extends and suckers through underground rhizomes.

It reaches an average height of 25-30cm (10-12in), with a spread of 75-80cm (30-32in). The small leaves are ovate, leathery, glossy, 1 to 3cm (0.3 to 1in) long, dark green on the upper side, and adorned with small brown glands on the underside. Very close together on the flexible, brownish branches, they form a dense and lush foliage that remains decorative even in winter. Flowering occurs first in May-June on the previous year's wood, then again in July-August on the current year's shoots. These are small bell-shaped flowers, 5 to 7 mm long, tinged with pink on a white-cream background, gathered in small clusters at the ends of the stems. Very popular with bees, this flowering gives way to round berries, 1cm (0.3in) in diameter, shiny, bright red-pink when ripe, and very decorative. Harvest takes place in two stages: first in early summer, then again in September-October. Red bilberries are self-fertile, one plant is enough to obtain a bountiful harvest.

The bilberry is mainly consumed in Northern European and American countries. Its tart fruit is low in calories but highly nutritious: it is rich in vitamins A, B, and C, minerals, and antioxidants. It can be consumed freshly picked, in juice, jam, jelly, sorbet, as a garnish for game meat, in sauces, or to flavour certain liqueurs and wines. Bilberries can be stored for about ten days after picking and can be frozen for longer preservation. In the garden, Vaccinum vitis-idaea finds its place in partially shaded areas, on the edge of woodlands, in orchards, or along an east-facing wall, where it will form a very attractive ground cover. This small bush will integrate beautifully into acidic soil flower beds, alongside rhododendrons, azaleas, hydrangeas, Andromedas, heathers, and May berries... It will also thrive in a lovely pot on the terrace or balcony, where it will offer its abundant fruiting within easy reach: monitor watering (with non-limestone water) and regularly provide ericaceous plant fertilizer for your bilberry.