Bog bilberry (Vaccinium uliginosum)

If you have been out walking in the wet parts of a forest, on a bog or a marsh it is very likely that you have encountered the bog bilberry, in Latin Vaccinium uliginosum. As its English and Latin names indicate it is a close relative of the bilberry, Vaccinium myrtillus and both being shrubs, having blue berries and growing in similar habitats, the two can be mistaken. The berries of the bog bilberry are, however, usually larger than those of bilberry and oval shaped and where the flowers have been there's a star-shaped mark.

The bog bilberry prefers acid conditions and is rarely found on calcareous soils and the soil must be moist or fairly wet. The shrub grows to about 40 cm with brown stems and blue-green oval leaves. An individual plant can live as long as 60 years and seedlings are rarely found in nature. The species often forms a dense understory layer providing cover for small mammals and birds. In late spring or early summer flowering begins with small white or pale pink flowers. The smell of the flowers is pleasant and quite sweet and aromatic. In late summer the berries begin to ripen. The fruits are dark blue – black and have, in contrast with bilberries, a white flesh. 

The berries of bog bilberry are sweet and juicy and are known to be eaten by both bears and foxes as well as ptarmigans, thrushes and other birds. In many countries bog bilberries are not very popular for eating and are sometimes falsely believed to be toxic. This is unfortunate since they are a good source of vitamin C, more than the bilberry, and have a high content of antioxidants. Bog bilberries have also been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties. In countries where the berries are consumed, for example Finland, Poland, Canada and Japan, the berries are used for making spirits, wine or liqueur as well as for making jams and jellies. In addition, the leaves can be used for tea. Although bog bilberry currently has no economic importance it possesses traits, for example cold hardiness, late flowering and resistance to fungi, which makes it an interesting candidate for crossing with more economically important related species.