Vaccinium vitis-idaea Red Pearl - Bilberry

Vaccinium vitis-idaea Red Pearl is a red-fruited small evergreen bush with glossy green foliage and a creeping habit, bearing both decorative and edible bright red berries. The self-fertile, bell-shaped white-pink flowers are highly attractive to bees and appear in May-June and again in July-August, followed by round, vibrant red berries with a tart and tangy flavour in summer and autumn. The fruits are noteworthy for their nutritional value, being rich in vitamins B and C and antioxidants, and low in calories, equally delightful to eat fresh or cooked. Vaccinium vitis-idaea is related to the blueberry and thrives in slightly acidic soil, such as peaty and humus-rich heathland, and prefers shade in the undergrowth. This very frost-resistant plant has a modest growth and adapts well to small gardens and container cultivation.

The cranberry belongs to the Ericaceae family, along with blueberries, heathers, and rhododendrons. The red cranberry, known as Vaccinium vitis-idaea in Latin, is also called the Mont Ida cranberry or Mont Ida vine. It naturally grows on acidic and peaty or humus-rich soils in wooded areas of mountainous regions in northern Europe, North America, and even Antarctica. It is a slow-growing, extremely cold-resistant shrub, with evergreen foliage, low and spreading habit, spreading through underground rhizomes. 

The Red Pearl cultivar typically reaches a height of 20-30 cm (8-12in) on average, with a spread of 75-80 cm (30-32in). The leaves are ovate, leathery, glossy, 1 to 3 cm (0 to 1in) long, dark green on the upper side, and adorned with small brown glands on the underside. They are dense and abundant, tightly covering the flexible, brownish branches and remaining decorative even in winter. Flowering occurs first in May-June on the previous year's wood, and again in July-August on the current year's shoots. The flowers are small, bell-shaped, 5 to 7 mm (0in) long, pink-tinged on a white-cream background, gathered in small clusters at the tips of the stems and loved by bees. The flowers give way to round, 1 to 1.5 cm (0 to 1in) in diameter, shiny berries, bright red when ripe, and highly decorative. The harvest takes place in two phases: first in early summer, then again in September-October. This Red Pearl variety is self-fertile, and a single plant is sufficient for a plentiful harvest. The cranberry belongs to the category of small fruits.

The cranberry is primarily consumed in the Northern European and American countries and is both an ornamental, medicinal, and edible plant. Its tangy fruit is low in calories but highly nutritious, being rich in vitamins B and C, minerals, and antioxidants. It can be consumed freshly picked, in juice, jam, jelly, sorbet, as a garnish for game, in sauce, or used to flavour certain liqueurs and wine. Cranberries can be stored for about ten days after picking and can be frozen for longer preservation.

In the garden, Vaccinium vitis-idaea Red Pearl thrives in partially shaded areas, along the edge of the undergrowth, in orchards, or along an east-facing wall, where it will create a beautiful ground cover. This small bush fits perfectly into acidic soil beds, alongside rhododendrons, azaleas, hydrangeas, andromedas, heathers, and May berries... It can also be planted in a lovely pot on the terrace or balcony, offering abundant fruit within reach: remember to water it with non-limestone water and regularly feed your cranberry.