Cowberry or lingonberry, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, is an acid-loving European shrub native to moors and woodlands. It has a dwarf, creeping habit with handsome glossy, evergreen foliage similar to that of hedging box. It’s a perfect choice for edging shady borders or for underplanting large shrubs and trees in acid soils, where it flowers and fruits freely in varying degrees of shade. The brilliant rich red spherical berries start to colour as the last bell-shaped flowers open in late summer. These can be eaten straight from the plant but they’re extremely tart – mash them up with sugar if you have a sweeter tooth.
Grow Vaccinium vitis-idaea in fertile, moist but well-drained, acidic soil in full sun to partial shade. Tidy up plants in winter if necessary.
How to grow Vaccinium vitis-idaea
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Plant size
25cm height
1.5m spread
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Aspect
South facing, west facing
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Position in border
Front
- Sun exposure: Full sun, dappled shade, partial shade
- Hardiness: Hardy
- Soil type: Acidic
- Plant care: Needs regular watering in pots
Plant calendar
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plant | ||||||||||||
| Plant |
J
Do not Plant in January |
F
Do not Plant in February |
M
Do not Plant in March |
A
Do not Plant in April |
M
Do not Plant in May |
J
Do not Plant in June |
J
Do not Plant in July |
A
Do not Plant in August |
S
Do Plant in September |
O
Do Plant in October |
N
Do Plant in November |
D
Do not Plant in December |
| Flowers | ||||||||||||
| Flowers |
J
Plant does not flower in January |
F
Plant does not flower in February |
M
Plant does not flower in March |
A
Plant does not flower in April |
M
Plant does flower in May |
J
Plant does flower in June |
J
Plant does not flower in July |
A
Plant does not flower in August |
S
Plant does not flower in September |
O
Plant does not flower in October |
N
Plant does not flower in November |
D
Plant does not flower in December |
| Fruits | ||||||||||||
| Fruits |
J
Plant does not fruit in January |
F
Plant does not fruit in February |
M
Plant does not fruit in March |
A
Plant does not fruit in April |
M
Plant does not fruit in May |
J
Plant does not fruit in June |
J
Plant does fruit in July |
A
Plant does fruit in August |
S
Plant does not fruit in September |
O
Plant does not fruit in October |
N
Plant does not fruit in November |
D
Plant does not fruit in December |
Vaccinium vitis-idaea and wildlife
Vaccinium vitis-idaea has no particular known value to wildlife in the UK.
Is Vaccinium vitis-idaea poisonous?
Vaccinium vitis-idaea has no toxic effects reported.
No reported toxicity to Birds
No reported toxicity to Cats
No reported toxicity to Dogs
No reported toxicity to Horses
No reported toxicity to Livestock
No reported toxicity to People
