Bilberry

Bilberry

Bilberries are found in Europe, northern Asia, Greenland, and the Western parts of Canada and United States.

Bilberry fruits are used to make jams or in pies, sometimes in combination with other forest fruits.

For nearly 1000 year, bilberry fruits have been used as a medicine for circulatory problems, diarrhea and other problems. Also leaves of bilberry have medicinal properties and are used for diabetes and other problems.

Names

Scientific
   Vaccinium myrtillus
English
   Bilberry
   Black-hearts
   Blaeberry
   Blue Whortleberry
   Common bilberry
   European blueberry
   Fraughan
   Myrtle blueberry
   Whinberry
   Whortleberry
   Wimberry
   Winberry
   Windberry
Dutch
   Blauwe bosbes
Spanish
   Arándano
   Mirtilo
French
   Myrtille
German
   Bickbeere
   Blaubeere
   Heidelbeere
   Moosbeere
   Schwarzbeere
   Waldbeere
   Wildbeere
   Zeckbeere
Italian
   Mirtillo nero

Taxonomy

Genus
   Vaccinium
Family
   Ericaceae
Order
   Ericales

Basic information and facts

Origin:

 

Distribution:

Bilberries grow in temperate regions in Europe, northern Asia, Greenland, and the Western parts of Canada and United States.

Evergreen or deciduous:

Deciduous

Flowers:

 

Leaves:

 

Fruits:

Climate and weather:

Bilberries grow in temperate and subarctic climates.

Pollination:

Height:

Bilberries are 15 to 60 cm tall.

Type of soil:

Bilberries grow well in very acidic, nutrient-poor soils.

Spacing

Propagation:

Insect pests:

Diseases:

Harvesting:

Bilberries are harvested by hand picking when the fruits are ripe.

Uses:

Bilberries can be eaten fresh (right of the bush while walking in the forest) or they are used to make jams or as filling in pies and cakes, often in combination with other “forest” fruits.
Fruits and leaves are used for their medicinal properties.

Proverbs and Quotes

Who knows a proverb or quote about Bilberry?

Recipes

No recipe yet.

Crop categories

Fruits
Medicinal plants
Food crops
Temperate crops

Pictures

Bilberry


Bilberry


Bilberries