Bilberry: The European Wild Blueberry

The bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) is the European wild relative of the American blueberry. The fruit is smaller, darker, and more intensely flavored — and dye-staining. British RAF pilots in WWII reportedly ate bilberry jam to improve night vision, a claim now considered folklore but linked to research interest in bilberry anthocyanins and eye health.

Origin and native range

Native across temperate and subarctic Europe and northern Asia. Wild populations cover huge areas of Scandinavian, Scottish, Russian, and Alpine forests. Bilberries are still primarily wild-harvested rather than cultivated.

Where bilberries grow today

Wild-harvested across northern Europe, especially Scandinavia, Russia, Poland, Romania, and the British uplands. Limited commercial cultivation has been attempted.

How to grow bilberries

USDA Zones 3-7. Like blueberries, requires acidic soil (pH 4.5-5.5). Slow-growing low shrub. More difficult to cultivate than American blueberries — most growers should plant blueberries instead unless specifically wanting the wild bilberry flavor.

Bottom line

A wild northern European treasure. Harder to grow than cultivated blueberries but with a wilder, more intense flavor.