Bilberry
Shrub·Vaccinium myrtillus
Part sun
Sun
Medium
Water
Moist soil
Drainage
Zones 2–8
Hardiness
Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) is a shrub. It grows best in sun to part shade and has moderate water needs.
Through the year
DormantLeafing outFloweringFruitingDying back
Works well with
from wiki dataNo companions recorded.
WHAT IT NEEDS
Wants part sun
Needs moderate water
Tolerates moist soil, as long as it drains well
Prefers soil pH 4.5–6
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Prefers sandy, loamy soil
Struggles in compacted soil
Draws up potassium, phosphorus from deep in the soil
Adds a moderate amount of organic matter to the soil
Partners with mycorrhizal fungi to boost nutrient uptake
WHAT IT GIVES
Gives fruit (edible fruit)
Gives mulch biomass (low to medium)
Provides potassium
Provides phosphorus
Attracts pollinators
Attracts birds
Attracts mammals
HOW IT GROWS
SIZE & SPACING
Shrub layer
Height10–60 cm
Spacing50 cm (min 30 cm)
Root depthShallow
Width30–100 cm
Width figures are rough estimates, the most variable measurement in our data.
AI estimate · accuracy improves as growers contribute corrections.
HOW TO PROPAGATE
Propagate by seed, cuttings, division
Difficulty
Establishes in about 2 yr
Self-seeds readily on its own
Where this comes from
Parsed11 Sept 2026
ConfidenceNot recorded