Bog Blueberry
Vaccinium uliginosum
- Native to:
- Albania, Aleutian Is., Austria, Baltic States, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Czechia-Slovakia, Denmark, Finland, Føroyar, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Greenland, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Kuril Is., Labrador, Netherlands, Norway, NW. Balkan Pen., Poland, Prince Edward I., Romania, Russia, Spain, Svalbard, Sweden, Switzerland, Transcaucasus, Türkiye, Ukraine, United States
David Gaya
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Ericaceae
- Genus:
- Vaccinium
- Species:
- Vaccinium uliginosum
- USDA Symbol:
- VAUL
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Shrub , Subshrub
- Height:
- 100 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun,Part Shade,Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- Low
- Bloom Months:
- may,jun
- Bloom Colors:
- white, pink
- Food Forest:
- Contains edible parts
- Landscaping Shrub:
- Yes
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★★★★★ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
- Caterpillars:
- ★★☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★★★★★ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)
- Pollen Specialist Bee Keystone:
- ★★☆☆☆ Native pollen specialist bee species supported by this genus (NWF)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Apple Sphinx (Sphinx gordius), Apple Sphinx (Sphinx "gordius"), Arctic woolly bear moth (Gynaephora groenlandica), Argent and sable (Rheumaptera hastata), Chain-lined geometer moth (Cingilia catenaria), Drexel's datana moth (Datana drexelii), gray-banded leafroller (Argyrotaenia mariana), Huckleberry sphinx (Paonias astylus), Major datana (Datana major), pawpaw sphinx (Dolba hyloeus), Semiothisa bicolorata, Xanthorhoe incursata, Freija fritillary (Clossiana freija), Pale Clouded Yellow (Colias palaeno), ⚠️Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary (Clossiana selene)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Bees: Two-form bumble bee (Bombus bifarius)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals
- Fall Color:
- red
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- peaty, acidic, nutrient-poor soil
- pH:
- 3.5 - 5.5 (strongly acidic to acidic)
- Drainage:
- tolerates poor drainage
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- Common in bogs and wetland areas
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 60–90 days
- Germination Time:
- 30–60 days
- Notes:
- Seeds require cold stratification for 2-3 months to break dormancy.
Pre-treatment: Not given
Establishment: The provided protocol lacks specific information on propagation source, pre-treatment, establishment protocol, temperature, germination rate, and germination time range for Andromeda polifolia.
Source: npn.rngr.net
Where to Buy
Nationwide Seller
- Sheffield's Seed (seeds)
- Butterfield Seeds (seeds)