BILBERRY

Vaccinium myrtillus is a low-growing deciduous shrub native to the heathlands, moorlands, and open woodlands of Europe and western Asia, where it spreads by rhizome to form dense, knee-high thickets. Its small, bright green leaves turn vivid shades of red and burgundy in autumn, and the nodding, urn-shaped pink flowers give way to deep blue-black berries dusted with a silvery bloom. Bilberry is a rewarding edible for gardeners with acidic, well-drained soil and patience — the fruit is smaller and more intensely flavored than its American blueberry cousins, and the plants support pollinators through the cooler shoulder seasons.