BilberryVaccinium myrtillus

Bilberry

Bilberries

1. Vitis-idaea myrtillus
2. Vaccinium myrtillus var. minoriflora

1. European blueberry
2. Common bilberry
3. Blue whortleberry
4. Blaeberry
5. Wimberry
6. Whortleberry
7. Fraughan

1. Hurtleberry
2. Winberry

1. Hurt (West Country)
2. Urts (Devon)

1. Whort

1. Wild Blueberries

1. Billberry

1. NameHuckleberry

   Languageen

   Shared with

   1. Gaylussacia spp.
   2. Vaccinium membranaceum

   Clarification

   In North America, 'Huckleberry' often refers to Gaylussacia species or other Vaccinium relatives.

2. NameBlaubeere

   Languagede

   Shared with

   1. Vaccinium corymbosum

   Clarification

   Commonly confused with the highbush blueberry, which has white flesh unlike the wild bilberry.

1. Bilberry
2. European blueberry
3. Vaccinium myrtillus

1. Tracheophyta
2. Angiospermae
3. Eudicotidae
4. Asteridae

Heathers

1. Vaccinium corymbosum
2. Vaccinium vitis-idaea
3. Vaccinium uliginosum
4. Vaccinium oxycoccos

1. Fruits

The bilberry is a true treasure of European forests. As a lime-hating dwarf shrub, it demands specific soil pH levels, but rewards the patient gardener with aromatic, deep-purple berries that far surpass cultivated varieties in flavor.

1. Taskplanting

   Label

   New planting

   Prioritymedium

   Months

   1. 3
   2. 4

   Notes

   Ensure acidic soil pH (4.0-5.0).

1. Taskharvest

   Label

   Harvest berries

   Priorityhigh

   Months

   1. 7
   2. 8
   3. 9

Partial shade to full shade

Sheltered preferred

Humus-rich, sandy, acidic

Well-drained but moisture-retentive

Regular, soil must never dry out completely

Rainwater (lime-free)

Organic fertilization in spring

1. Bark mulch
2. Pine needles
3. Ericaceous fertilizer

Perennial crop; choose site carefully as transplanting is difficult.

1. Not relevant for perennial crops; ideally after forest clearing or on heathland.

1. Other ericaceous plants after soil remediation.

Bilberries are very long-lived perennial crops and remain in the same location for decades.

1. Slugeisenmangel_chlorose

   Name

   Iron deficiency (Chlorosis)

   Symptoms

   Yellow leaves with green veins, usually caused by a soil pH that is too high.

1. Slugkalkschaden

   Name

   Lime sensitivity

   Description

   Growth stagnation and leaf drop when using tap water.

2. Slugspätfrost

   Name

   Late frost damage

   Description

   Crop loss due to frozen blossoms in May.

1. Caterpillars
2. Aphids
3. Voles

1. Fungal diseases
2. Root rot

1. Strictly maintain acidic soil pH (4.0–5.0).
2. Use only rainwater for irrigation.
3. Regularly mulch with acidic material (pine needles).

Yellow leaves in bilberries almost always indicate an excessively high soil pH or lime in the irrigation water.

1. Slugmonilinia

   Severityhigh

   Conditions

   1. Wet weather during flowering

   Affected parts

   1. Fruits
   2. Shoot tips

   Prevention

   1. Remove infected plant parts in winter
   2. Airy planting site

   Organic control

   1. Complete removal of affected berries

1. Symptom

   Leaves yellow, veins green

   Possible causes

   1. iron_deficiency
   2. high_ph_value

   First checks

   1. Measure soil pH
   2. Check irrigation water for lime

1. Bud break in early spring
2. Flowering from April to June
3. Fruit set and green ripening
4. Fruit maturity in midsummer
5. Autumn foliage coloration (red)
6. Winter dormancy (deciduous)

Budding often occurs alongside flowering; leaves turn a vibrant red in autumn before dropping.

April to June

Greenish-white to pink

Bell-shaped, solitary in leaf axils

July to September

0.1 to 0.4 kg per plant

Multiple pickings, as berries ripen successively.

1. Uniform dark blue to black coloration
2. Berries detach easily from the stem
3. Slight give under gentle pressure

Berries are very sensitive to bruising; cool or process quickly.

Short-term fresh storage

Fresh 2-5 days in the refrigerator; frozen up to 12 months.

1. Freezing
2. Preserving (Jam/Jelly)
3. Drying
4. Juice extraction

1. Fresh consumption
2. Baking ingredient
3. Dessert topping

Sweet-tart, aromatic, staining.

1. Blueberry pancakes
2. Muffins
3. Berry compote
4. Game dishes (as sauce)

1. Fruits
2. Leaves (for tea)

1. Roots
2. Woody stems

No known toxicity; when foraging wild, be aware of Echinococcus risk (wash thoroughly!).

Very suitable; stains mouth and teeth intensely blue.

1. Washing seeds from ripe fruits
2. Cold stratification required

Seed propagation leads to genetic variability; use cuttings for true-to-type propagation.

1. Natural dwarf shrub habit
2. Ground cover management

Bilberries grow on their own roots and form underground runners (rhizomes).

Important food plant for bumblebees and moth caterpillars like the winter moth.

Check mulch layer and replenish if necessary.

Main harvest time and watering during drought.

Enjoy foliage color; time for new plantings.

Pruning of old shoots on frost-free days.