Practical
Plants

Vaccinium vitis-idaea

Cowberry

a perennial woody evergreen member of the Vaccinium genus in the family Ericaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Family
Ericaceae
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Woodiness
woody
Height
0.25 m
Spread
1 m
Fertility
Self fertile, Bees, Self
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Bees, Self

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Fruit - raw or cooked[12][19][20][24][16][18]. Quite pleasant to eat[22]. An acid flavour, they are used like cranberries in preserves and are considered by many people to be superior to cranberries[9]. The taste is better after a frost[21][3][6]. Occasionally the plants bear 2 crops in a year[4]. The fruit is about 6mm in diameter[13]. A tea is made from the leaves[7][9]. This should not be drunk on a regular basis because it contains the toxin 'arbutin'[24].

Plant part
Fruit
Product or use
Tea

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The leaves are antiseptic, astringent, diuretic, refrigerant[22][16]. They are used in the treatment of gonorrhoea[17], arthritis, rheumatism, diabetes and diarrhoea[24]. The leaves are gathered in early summer and dried for later use[22]. The mature fruits are eaten fresh or dried as a remedy for diarrhoea[24] and as a treatment for sore throats, coughs and colds[18]. The juice has been gargled as a treatment for sore throats[18].

Product or use
Antiseptic
Product or use
Astringent
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Refrigerant
Product or use
VD

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A yellow dye is obtained from the leaves and stems[6]. A purple dye is obtained from the fruit[14]. Can be grown as a ground cover plant[1], spreading by underground runners[10]. It needs weeding for the first year or so[11]. Plants are best spaced about 30cm apart each way[15].

Product or use
Dye

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Soil surface

Ground cover

Environment

Range
Europe, including Britain, from Iceland south and east to the Pyrenees, Macedonia, N. Asia to Japan
Habitat
Sunny mountain meadows, peat moors and pine woods[22][5], on acid soils[24].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 5+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
Soil pH
very acid, acid
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - sow late winter in a greenhouse in a lime-free potting mix and only just cover the seed[23]. Stored seed might require a period of up to 3 months cold stratification[2]. Another report says that it is best to sow the seed in a greenhouse as soon as it is ripe[13]. Once they are about 5cm tall, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a lightly shaded position in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 5 - 8cm with a heel, August in a frame[23]. Slow and difficult. Layering in late summer or early autumn[23]. Another report says that spring is the best time to layer[13]. Takes 18 months[23]. Division of suckers in spring or early autumn[2].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Requires a moist but freely-draining lime free soil, preferring one that is rich in peat or a light loamy soil with added leaf-mould[1][13]. Prefers a very acid soil with a pH in the range of 4.5 to 6, plants soon become chlorotic when lime is present. Succeeds in full sun or light shade though it fruits better in a sunny position[13]. Requires shelter from strong winds[13]. Dislikes root disturbance, plants are best grown in pots until being planted out in their permanent positions[13]. Sometimes cultivated for its edible fruit, there are some named varieties[9]. 'Koralle' has large and conspicuous berries[8]. The fruit hangs on the plant all winter if it is not picked[9]. The flowers produce a great deal of nectar and are very attractive to bees[22]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[13].

References

  1. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  2. Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press 1987-00-00 ISBN 0942375009

    ↩1↩2

  3. Johnson. C. P. The Useful Plants of Great Britain.

    ↩

  4. Triska. Dr. Hamlyn Encyclopaedia of Plants. Hamlyn 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-600-33545-3

    ↩

  5. Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00

    ↩

  6. Schofield. J. J. Discovering Wild Plants - Alaska, W. Canada and the Northwest.

    ↩1↩2

  7. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩

  8. Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-7195-5043-2

    ↩

  9. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  10. Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-86318-386-7

    ↩

  11. Royal Horticultural Society. Ground Cover Plants. Cassells. 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-304-31089-1

    ↩

  12. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

    ↩

  13. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8

  14. Coffey. T. The History and Folklore of North American Wild Flowers. Facts on File. 1993-00-00 ISBN 0-8160-2624-6

    ↩

  15. Thomas. G. S. Plants for Ground Cover J. M. Dent & Sons 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-460-12609-1

    ↩

  16. Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-553-23827-2

    ↩1↩2

  17. Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4

    ↩

  18. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩1↩2↩3

  19. Simmons. A. E. Growing Unusual Fruit. David and Charles 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-7153-5531-7

    ↩

  20. Mabey. R. Food for Free. Collins 1974-00-00 ISBN 0-00-219060-5

    ↩

  21. Elias. T. and Dykeman. P. A Field Guide to N. American Edible Wild Plants. Van Nostrand Reinhold 1982-00-00 ISBN 0442222009

    ↩

  22. Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-356-10541-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  23. Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  24. Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn 1981-00-00 ISBN 0-600-37216-2

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

Edit this page