Vaccinium myrtillus

Small shrub of the Ericaceae family, the common bilberry is widely spread across Europe, from the Iberian Peninsula to the Scandinavian regions, as well as in temperate Asia. It colonizes heaths, coniferous and birch undergrowth, acidic bogs, and alpine meadows, from hills up to over 2,500 meters in the alpine and Pyrenean massifs.

It forms dense, rounded bushy clumps, rarely exceeding 30 to 40 cm in height, with characteristically angular and green stems, which distinguish it at first glance from its close cousins. The leaves are oval, finely toothed, bright green and slightly shiny, deciduous, turning orange to carmine red in autumn, particularly decorative.

The flowers, solitary in the leaf axils, are small globular urns, greenish pink to reddish pink, clearly visible in the photograph, preceding the fruits. In its natural habitat, its flowering extends from May to July depending on the altitude.

The blue to bluish-black berries, with highly coloring purplish flesh, are edible and have been widely used in confectionery, jams, and traditional medicine for centuries.

In cultivation, it absolutely requires acidic, peaty or sandy soil, cool and well-drained, without lime. It is suitable for heather gardens and naturalized compositions in acidic soil.