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Airelle rouge Bio - Vaccinium vitis idaea
Airelle rouge Bio - Vaccinium vitis idaea
Airelle rouge Bio - Vaccinium vitis idaea
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Dispatch by letter from €3.90.
Delivery charge from €5.90 Oversize package delivery charge from €6.90.
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This plant carries a 6 months recovery warranty
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We guarantee the quality of our plants for a full growing cycle, and will replace at our expense any plant that fails to recover under normal climatic and planting conditions.
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The Red Bilberry, in Latin Vaccinum vitis-idaea, is a small bush that thrives in partial shade and acidic, moist soil. It is both ornamental, medicinal, and edible. With a wide and low habit, well-branched, and dressed in dense foliage that persists throughout the year, it forms an elegant ground cover. In spring, and sometimes again in summer, its vegetation is adorned with small bell-shaped flowers in white-pink shades that are very attractive. These flowers will give rise to small round berries of a bright red colour, the bilberries, highlighted by the beautiful foliage. These fruits, with a tart flavour, are traditionally consumed dried or cooked, in jams or jellies to accompany meat and game dishes. Plant from Organic Agriculture.
The bilberry belongs to the heath family, just like blueberries, heathers, and rhododendrons. The red bilberry, in Latin Vaccinium vitis-idaea, also known as the mountain bilberry, grows naturally on acidic and peaty soils, in wooded areas of mountainous regions in northern Europe, North America, and even Antarctica. In France, bilberries are mainly found in the Jura and the Alps, where they are protected. It is a slow-growing bush, extremely cold-resistant, with evergreen foliage and a low, spreading habit, which extends and suckers through underground rhizomes.
It reaches an average height of 25-30cm (10-12in), with a spread of 75-80cm (30-32in). The small leaves are ovate, leathery, glossy, 1 to 3cm (0.3 to 1in) long, dark green on the upper side, and adorned with small brown glands on the underside. Very close together on the flexible, brownish branches, they form a dense and lush foliage that remains decorative even in winter. Flowering occurs first in May-June on the previous year's wood, then again in July-August on the current year's shoots. These are small bell-shaped flowers, 5 to 7 mm long, tinged with pink on a white-cream background, gathered in small clusters at the ends of the stems. Very popular with bees, this flowering gives way to round berries, 1cm (0.3in) in diameter, shiny, bright red-pink when ripe, and very decorative. Harvest takes place in two stages: first in early summer, then again in September-October. Red bilberries are self-fertile, one plant is enough to obtain a bountiful harvest.
The bilberry is mainly consumed in Northern European and American countries. Its tart fruit is low in calories but highly nutritious: it is rich in vitamins A, B, and C, minerals, and antioxidants. It can be consumed freshly picked, in juice, jam, jelly, sorbet, as a garnish for game meat, in sauces, or to flavour certain liqueurs and wines. Bilberries can be stored for about ten days after picking and can be frozen for longer preservation. In the garden, Vaccinum vitis-idaea finds its place in partially shaded areas, on the edge of woodlands, in orchards, or along an east-facing wall, where it will form a very attractive ground cover. This small bush will integrate beautifully into acidic soil flower beds, alongside rhododendrons, azaleas, hydrangeas, Andromedas, heathers, and May berries... It will also thrive in a lovely pot on the terrace or balcony, where it will offer its abundant fruiting within easy reach: monitor watering (with non-limestone water) and regularly provide ericaceous plant fertilizer for your bilberry.
Plant habit
Fruit
Flowering
Foliage
Botanical data
Planting the cranberry ideally takes place in autumn or throughout the year, excluding freezing temperatures. This bush is planted in partial shade, on the edge of woodland, in clear understory, or in an east-facing position, without scorching sun. It is very hardy (-30 °C) and will grow without difficulty if the soil and exposure suit it.
Install it in a very acidic to acid soil (pH between 4 and 6), incorporating pure heath soil or in a mixture of ordinary soil and peat, well-decomposed bark compost. The collar should be level with the ground. Firmly tamp the soil and water generously with non-lime water. In slightly alkaline to neutral soil, dig a hole 50 to 60cm (20 to 24in) deep, line the edges with a garden felt, then fill with a mixture of compost and heath soil. The cranberry tolerates periodically waterlogged soil, for example on the banks of water points.
The soil should remain moist to wet. If watering is necessary, use non-lime and non-chlorinated water (e.g. rainwater harvesting). Mulch the base with shredded bark, straw, or fern leaves. Sometimes it is useful to put up a protective net if birds become too greedy during harvest. In spring, annually apply a little well-rotted compost on the surface. The cranberry is a bush that is not very susceptible to diseases and pests.
Planting period
Intended location
Care
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Hardiness is the lowest winter temperature a plant can endure without suffering serious damage or even dying. However, hardiness is affected by location (a sheltered area, such as a patio), protection (winter cover) and soil type (hardiness is improved by well-drained soil).
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The flowering period indicated on our website applies to countries and regions located in USDA zone 8 (France, the United Kingdom, Ireland, the Netherlands, etc.)
It will vary according to where you live:
In temperate climates, pruning of spring-flowering shrubs (forsythia, spireas, etc.) should be done just after flowering.
Pruning of summer-flowering shrubs (Indian Lilac, Perovskia, etc.) can be done in winter or spring.
In cold regions as well as with frost-sensitive plants, avoid pruning too early when severe frosts may still occur.
The planting period indicated on our website applies to countries and regions located in USDA zone 8 (France, United Kingdom, Ireland, Netherlands).
It will vary according to where you live:
The harvesting period indicated on our website applies to countries and regions in USDA zone 8 (France, England, Ireland, the Netherlands).
In colder areas (Scandinavia, Poland, Austria...) fruit and vegetable harvests are likely to be delayed by 3-4 weeks.
In warmer areas (Italy, Spain, Greece, etc.), harvesting will probably take place earlier, depending on weather conditions.
The sowing periods indicated on our website apply to countries and regions within USDA Zone 8 (France, UK, Ireland, Netherlands).
In colder areas (Scandinavia, Poland, Austria...), delay any outdoor sowing by 3-4 weeks, or sow under glass.
In warmer climes (Italy, Spain, Greece, etc.), bring outdoor sowing forward by a few weeks.