Scientific name: Vaccinium vitis-idaea
Family: ERICACEAE
Common names: “Lingonberry” “cowberry” “northern mountain cranberry”
Plant Type: Evergreen shrub
Conditions:
Zone: 3-8
Light: Full sun – semi-shade
Exposure: Sheltered
Soil: Acidic humus rich sandy loam
Moisture: Moist well drained – dry
Aesthetic:
Plant Size: H 6-12″ W 2-3′
Leaf and Stem shape: Small leathery, narrowly elliptic to ovate leaves with rounded tips and smooth, rolled edges
Flower: Small drooping clusters of pinkish cup-shaped flowers at the branch tips
Pruning: Minimal – none
Maintenance: Low – zero
Landscape use: Woodland garden, groundcover, wildlife garden, wetlands
Propagate: By seed, cuttings, layering
Pests & Disease: Generally healthy, can be affected by root rot
*Fire resistant
Comments: Edible berries taste similar to cranberries and the taste improves after frost, one of Finland’s most cherished and collected fruits of the forest, many forest animals eat the berries
Cultivars: V. v. Koralle Group ~AGM winner
