Lingonberries (Vaccinium vitis-idaea)
Lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea)
Lingonberries are native to the cold north of the world where they are much prized.
A low growing, spreading, evergreen shrub only reaching about 30 cm high, the lingonberry
needs a fairly moist acid/neutral soil and prefers some shade. They have delicate white flowers in the summer, followed by red berries in the early autumn that are about 10 mm in size and similar to their cousins the cranberries. If you do not have an acid soil then no problem as they do very well in tubs in a well drained lime free compost.
In Scandinavia they are often used, among other things, to make a source served with reindeer meat.