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Bilberry

Bilberry

Vaccinium myrtillus

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How common: Very common

Bilberry is a low, bushy shrub of cool northern forests. In early summer it bears small greenish to reddish, round bell‑like flowers, followed by dark blue berries in mid to late summer. It often carpets the forest floor and can spread into large patches via underground stems.

Did you know?

  • Green stems can make sugars even in winter under snow.
  • One plant can form a big clone by spreading with underground stems.

About the species

Identification

Low shrub 10–50 cm. Stems upright and stiff; young stems bright green and sharply angled, older parts brown and round. Leaves thin, oval and pointed (0.8–2.5 cm) with fine teeth; they turn color and drop in autumn. Flowers small (4–7 mm), one per leaf joint, round and pot‑shaped, greenish‑yellow to pinkish‑red. Berries round (6–8 mm), dark blue with a pale waxy coat; flesh is blue and stains fingers. Differs from bog bilberry: bilberry has toothed leaves and green angled stems; bog bilberry has smoother‑edged leaves, brown round stems, and pale‑fleshed berries. Flowers in Finland mainly in May–June (sometimes into July).

Plant group

Dwarf shrubs

Habitat

heath forest

Flowering

May–Jul

About the habitat

Grows on acidic, mossy forest floors in boreal and montane regions: in moist and also drier conifer woods, mixed woods and swampy woods; farther north also on open heaths. Tolerates shade. Common throughout the country.

Sources

Photo: Ilena from Perth, Australia, CC BY-SA 2.0 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bilberry.jpg

Text: Pinkka: Kasvien talvi - Koululaisille: talvivihreät kasvit, CC BY 4.0 https://laji.fi/taxon/MX.38622

Text: Pinkka: Yläkoulun Pinkka - Tuore kangasmetsä, CC BY 4.0 https://laji.fi/taxon/MX.38622

Text: Pinkka: Suomen puuvartiset - Koppisiemeniset. Lähteet: Väre, H., Saarinen, J., Kurtto, A. & Hämet-Ahti, L. (toim.) 2021: Suomen puu- ja pensaskasvio. 3. täysin uudistettu p. – Publications of the Finnish Dendrological Society 10: 1–552 s., CC BY 4.0 https://laji.fi/taxon/MX.38622

Text: Pinkka: BIO-503 Suomen kasvisto ja kasvillisuus - Metsät: tuoreet kankaat, CC BY 4.0 https://laji.fi/taxon/MX.38622

Text: Pinkka: BIO-516 Hyötykasvit - Kotimaan villivihanneksia ja marjoja, CC BY 4.0 https://laji.fi/taxon/MX.38622

Text: Pinkka: Kasvien talvi - Talvivihreät luonnonkasvit, CC BY 4.0 https://laji.fi/taxon/MX.38622

Text: Wikipedia (Finnish), CC BY-SA 4.0 https://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mustikka

See also