Vaccinium vitis-idaea Cowberry (Ericaceae) Evergreen shrub

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Vaccinium vitis-idaea
Cowberry
Evergreen shrub
(1 Page of 5)

The Vaccinium vitis-idaea plant species is found in Britain. It is a member of the Ericaceae family. Common gardeners may know the plant as Cowberry.

Cultivation | Propagation | General Uses
Medicinal | Edible Uses

Latin Name:  Vaccinium vitis-idaea
Common Name:  Cowberry
Family:  Ericaceae
Author:  L.

Known Hazards:  None known

Mature Height:  0.25   Mature Width:  1

Habitat:  Sunny mountain meadows, peat moors and pine woods[7, 17], on acid soils[9].

Edible Uses: Fruit - raw or cooked[2, 3, 5, 9, 21, 257]. Quite pleasant to eat[7]. An acid flavour, they are used like cranberries in preserves and are considered by many people to be superior to cranberries[183]. The taste is better after a frost[62, 115, 172]. Occasionally the plants bear 2 crops in a year[13]. The fruit is about 6mm in diameter[200]. A tea is made from the leaves[177, 183]. This should not be drunk on a regular basis because it contains the toxin 'arbutin'[9].

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Cultivation | Propagation | General Uses
Medicinal | Edible Uses

The information above has been supplied solely via the hard work and dedication of the team at 'Plants for a Future'.
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