Bilberry.

En un coup d'œil

Niveau d'entretien

Moyenne

Type de plante

Deciduous shrub

Lumière

Partial shade to full sun

Lumière en intérieur

Lumière vive indirecte

Arrosage

Tous les 3 à 7 jours

Taille adulte

1 to 2 feet

Croissance

Lente

Rusticité

USDA 3 à 7

Floraison

Late spring

Entretien

Keep the soil consistently moist and ensure it stays acidic for the best results. Watch for wilting if the soil dries out too much or if the summer heat becomes intense. Providing a layer of mulch helps keep the roots cool and retains necessary moisture.

Arrosage

Keep the soil evenly moist but never waterlogged.

Engrais

Apply an acid loving plant fertilizer once in early spring.

Taille

Trim back dead or crowded branches in late winter while the plant is dormant.

Rempotage

Repot only when the plant has clearly outgrown its container.

Sol

Acidic, peaty, well drained soil

pH du sol

4.5 to 5.5

Température

-30 à 25°C

Humidité

50 à 80%

Résistance à la sécheresse

Faible

Durée de vie

Perennial, typically 10 to 20 years.

Résistance aux chevreuils et lapins

Moyenne

Sécurité

Humains

The plant is non toxic, though excessive consumption of leaves is not recommended.

Enfants

Small berries may pose a minor choking hazard to very young children.

Allergènes de contact

None notable.

Allergènes aéroportés

Pollen may cause mild reactions in sensitive individuals.

Comestibilité

Ensure positive identification before consumption as some wild berries can be mistaken for toxic lookalikes.

Comment l'identifier

• Deciduous shrub with green angled stems
• Small oval leaves with serrated edges
• Solitary urn shaped pinkish flowers
• Dark blue berries with red flesh

Hauteur

0,15 à 0,6m

Envergure

0,2 à 0,5m

Feuilles

bright green, deciduous

Fleurs

pinkish green, 0,5 à 0,8cm

Fruits

blue, black, Late summer

Problèmes courants

• Rust — Fungal infection causing orange spots on leaves.

La cultiver

Multiplication

seed, cuttings, division

Quand planter

spring, autumn

Hivernage

The plant is fully hardy and requires no special protection, though a layer of mulch can help protect roots in harsh climates.

En pot

Not well suited for containers due to strict soil and moisture requirements.

Group with other acid loving plants to maintain the soil pH they require.

Bonnes associations

• Bruyère — They share similar acidic soil and moisture requirements.
• Lingonberry — They are natural companions in forest understories.

Espèces similaires

• Vaccinium uliginosum — It is a closely related species that grows in similar habitats.

Science

Famille

Ericaceae

Genre

Vaccinium

Ordre

Ericales

Classe

Magnoliopsida

Région d'origine

Northern and Central Europe, Northern Asia.

Préservation

It is widespread and not currently considered threatened in its native range.

It thrives in acidic, nutrient poor soils of heathlands and coniferous forests.

Intérêt pour la faune

nectar source, food for birds

Pollinisateurs

abeilles

Utilisations

culinary, ornamental, groundcover

Taxonomie vérifiée avec le GBIF.

Ce qu'on demande souvent

Can I grow bilberries in a pot?

They are difficult to keep happy in containers due to their specific soil acidity needs.

Do they need full sun?

They prefer partial shade to thrive.

D'où vient le nom

The name Vaccinium is the ancient Latin name for the blueberry, while myrtillus refers to the resemblance of the leaves to those of the myrtle plant.

Bon à savoir

• Bilberries are often smaller and darker than common blueberries.
• The juice of the fruit is a natural dye.
• They are a staple food for many forest animals.
• These plants prefer acidic, peaty soils.