This is a mountain or moorland plant which we began to see once we had climbed above 1,500 feet. Superficially it resembles Vaccinium myrtillus (Bilberry) which can grow almost at sea level but the bright green, veined leaves of Vaccinium uliginosum are quite different in appearance. The fruit is bluish black and like Vaccinium myrtillus is found later in the summer.

There are sites in northern England for this plant and just two others in Wales and on Exmoor but northern Scotland is its home and there it is locally plentiful.

Fraoch-bheinn, Scotland 8th June 2006

Added on Added on 12th November 2006, updated 19th February 2012, updated 15th Nov 2014