Taxon:  Vaccinium myrtillus L.



Summary
Genus:
Vaccinium
Section:
Myrtillus
Family:
Ericaceae
Subfamily:
Vaccinioideae
Tribe:
Vaccinieae
Nomen number:
41040
Place of publication:
Sp. pl. 1:349.  1753
Verified:
01/14/2010 ARS Systematic Botanists.
Accessions:
48 (46  active, 0  available) in National Plant Germplasm System.  (Map it)
Other conspecific taxa
Autonyms (not in current use), synonyms and invalid designations
Heterotypic Synonym(s)
Vaccinium yatabei Makino

No images


Conservation Status

Reference(s)
  1. Oklahoma invasive Plant database
  2. Aldén, B., S. Ryman, & M. Hjertson. 2012. Svensk Kulturväxtdatabas, SKUD (Swedish Cultivated and Utility Plants Database; online resource)
  3. APHIS. Agricultural Risk Management System United States Department of Agriculture.
  4. Bassil, N. V. et al. 2010. Microsatellite markers distinguish Hawaiian ohelo from other Vaccinium L. section Myrtillus species. Acta Hort. 859:81-88.
  5. Davis, P. H., ed. 1965-1988. Flora of Turkey and the east Aegean islands.
  6. Dorn, R. D. 1977. Manual of the vascular plants of Wyoming
  7. Duke, J. A. et al. 2002. CRC Handbook of medicinal herbs
  8. Encke, F. et al. 1993. Zander: Handwörterbuch der Pflanzennamen, 14. Auflage
  9. Euro+Med Editorial Committee. Euro+Med Plantbase: the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity (on-line resource).
  10. Facciola, S. 1990. Cornucopia, a source book of edible plants Kampong Publications.
  11. Feuillet, C. 1998. pers. comm. Note: re. French common names
  12. FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America.
  13. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). 2010. Ecocrop (on-line resource).
  14. Groth, D. 2005. pers. comm. Note: re. Brazilian common names
  15. Hancock, J. F. et al. 2008. Blueberries and cranberries. In: Hancock, J. F., ed., Temperate fruit crop breeding: germplasm to genomics 4:115-149.
  16. Hitchcock, C. L. et al. 1955-1969. Vascular plants of the Pacific Northwest.
  17. Hokkanen, J. et al. 2009. Identification of phenolic compunds from lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea), bilberry (Vaccnium myrtillus L.) and hybrid bilberry (Vaccinium × intermedium Ruthe L.) leaves. J. Agric. Food Chem. 57:9437-9447.
  18. Huxley, A., ed. 1992. The new Royal Horticultural Society dictionary of gardening
  19. Iwatsuki, K. et al. 1993-. Flora of Japan. Note: = Vaccinium yatabei Makino
  20. Kartesz, J. T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland.
  21. Komarov, V. L. et al., eds. 1934-1964. Flora SSSR.
  22. Krasnoborov, I. M., ed. 2000-. Flora of Siberia (English translation)
  23. Krüssmann, G. 1984. Manual of cultivated broad-leaved trees and shrubs (English translation of Handbuch der Laubgehölze. 1976)
  24. Kunkel, G. 1984. Plants for human consumption
  25. Laasimer, L. et al., eds. 1993-. Flora of the Baltic countries; compendium of vascular plants.
  26. Leung, A. Y. & S. Foster. 1996. Encyclopedia of common natural ingredients used in food, drugs, and cosmetics, ed. 2
  27. Mabberley, D. J. 1997. The plant-book: a portable dictionary of the vascular plants, ed. 2
  28. Markle, G. M. et al., eds. 1998. Food and feed crops of the United States, ed. 2
  29. McGuffin, M., J. T. Kartesz, A. Y. Leung, & A. O. Tucker. 2000. Herbs of commerce, ed. 2 American Herbal Products Association, Silver Spring, Maryland.
  30. Morazzoni, P. & E. Bombardelli. 1996. Fitoterapia. 66:3-29.
  31. Personal Care Products Council. International Nomenclature Cosmetic Ingredient
  32. Porcher, M. H. et al. Searchable World Wide Web Multilingual Multiscript Plant Name Database (MMPND) (on-line resource).
  33. Powell, E. A. & K. A. Kron. 2002. Hawaiian blueberries and their relatives - A phylogenetic analysis of Vaccinium sections Macropelma, Myrtillus, and Hemimyrtillus (Ericaceae). Syst. Bot. 27:768-779. www.aspt.net/systematic-botany
  34. Scoggan, H. J. 1978-1979. The flora of Canada, 4 vol.
  35. Shibli, R. A. & M. A. L. Smith. 1996. Direct shoot regeneration from Vaccinium pahalae (Ohelo) and V. myrtillus (bilberry) leaf explants. HortScience 31:1225-1228.
  36. Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
  37. Vander Kloet, S. P. & T. A. Dickinson. 1999. The taxonomy of Vaccinium section Myrtillus. Brittonia 51:246-247.
  38. Vander Kloet, S. P. 1988. The genus Vaccinium in North America
  39. Welsh, S. L. et al. 1987. A Utah flora. Great Basin Naturalist Mem. 9.
  40. Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
Common names
LanguageNameAlternate namenoteseqCitation
Englishbilberry  1Wiersema, J. H. & B. León. 1999. World economic plants: a standard reference CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL.
Englishblaeberry  1Huxley, A., ed. 1992. The new Royal Horticultural Society dictionary of gardening
Englishdwarf bilberry  1Hitchcock, C. L. et al. 1955-1969. Vascular plants of the Pacific Northwest.
EnglishEuropean blueberry  1Oklahoma invasive Plant database
Englishwhinberry  1Huxley, A., ed. 1992. The new Royal Horticultural Society dictionary of gardening
Englishwhortleberry  1Wiersema, J. H. & B. León. 1999. World economic plants: a standard reference CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL.
Frenchmyrtille  2Feuillet, C. 1998. pers. comm. Note: re. French common names
GermanHeidelbeere  2Encke, F. et al. 1993. Zander: Handwörterbuch der Pflanzennamen, 14. Auflage
Japanese Rōmajiaojiku-sunoki as Vaccinium yatabei2Iwatsuki, K. et al. 1993-. Flora of Japan. Note: = Vaccinium yatabei Makino
Japanese Rōmajihime-usunoki as Vaccinium yatabei2Iwatsuki, K. et al. 1993-. Flora of Japan. Note: = Vaccinium yatabei Makino
Portuguese (Brazil)mirtilo  2Groth, D. 2005. pers. comm. Note: re. Brazilian common names
Portuguese (Brazil)uva-do-monte  2Groth, D. 2005. pers. comm. Note: re. Brazilian common names
Swedishblåbär  2Aldén, B., S. Ryman, & M. Hjertson. 2012. Svensk Kulturväxtdatabas, SKUD (Swedish Cultivated and Utility Plants Database; online resource)
Distribution
order_codeStatusContinentSubcontinentCountryStateNoteReference
1NativeAsia-TemperateCaucasusArmenia  Komarov, V. L. et al., eds. 1934-1964. Flora SSSR.
1NativeAsia-TemperateCaucasusGeorgia  Komarov, V. L. et al., eds. 1934-1964. Flora SSSR.
1NativeAsia-TemperateCaucasusRussian FederationDagestan Komarov, V. L. et al., eds. 1934-1964. Flora SSSR.
1NativeAsia-TemperateCaucasusRussian Federation-CiscaucasiaCiscaucasia Komarov, V. L. et al., eds. 1934-1964. Flora SSSR.
1NativeAsia-TemperateEastern AsiaJapanHonshun. & c.Iwatsuki, K. et al. 1993-. Flora of Japan. Note: = Vaccinium yatabei Makino
1NativeAsia-TemperateMongoliaMongolia  Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
1NativeAsia-TemperateSiberiaRussian Federation-Eastern SiberiaEastern Siberia Komarov, V. L. et al., eds. 1934-1964. Flora SSSR.
1NativeAsia-TemperateSiberiaRussian Federation-Western SiberiaWestern Siberia Komarov, V. L. et al., eds. 1934-1964. Flora SSSR.
1NativeAsia-TemperateWestern AsiaTurkey n.Davis, P. H., ed. 1965-1988. Flora of Turkey and the east Aegean islands.
1NativeEuropeEastern EuropeBelarus  Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
1NativeEuropeEastern EuropeEstonia  Laasimer, L. et al., eds. 1993-. Flora of the Baltic countries; compendium of vascular plants.
1NativeEuropeEastern EuropeLatvia  Laasimer, L. et al., eds. 1993-. Flora of the Baltic countries; compendium of vascular plants.
1NativeEuropeEastern EuropeLithuania  Laasimer, L. et al., eds. 1993-. Flora of the Baltic countries; compendium of vascular plants.
1NativeEuropeEastern EuropeMoldova  Komarov, V. L. et al., eds. 1934-1964. Flora SSSR.
1NativeEuropeEastern EuropeRussian Federation-European partEuropean part Komarov, V. L. et al., eds. 1934-1964. Flora SSSR.
1NativeEuropeEastern EuropeUkraine  Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
1NativeEuropeMiddle EuropeAustria  Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
1NativeEuropeMiddle EuropeCzech Republic  Euro+Med Editorial Committee. Euro+Med Plantbase: the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity (on-line resource).
1NativeEuropeMiddle EuropeGermany  Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
1NativeEuropeMiddle EuropeHungary  Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
1NativeEuropeMiddle EuropeNetherlands  Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
1NativeEuropeMiddle EuropePoland  Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
1NativeEuropeMiddle EuropeSlovakia  Euro+Med Editorial Committee. Euro+Med Plantbase: the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity (on-line resource).
1NativeEuropeMiddle EuropeSwitzerland  Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
1NativeEuropeNorthern EuropeDenmark  Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
1NativeEuropeNorthern EuropeFinland  Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
1NativeEuropeNorthern EuropeIceland  Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
1NativeEuropeNorthern EuropeIreland  Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
1NativeEuropeNorthern EuropeNorway  Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
1NativeEuropeNorthern EuropeSweden  Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
1NativeEuropeNorthern EuropeUnited Kingdom  Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
1NativeEuropeSoutheastern EuropeAlbania  Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
1NativeEuropeSoutheastern EuropeBulgaria  Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
1NativeEuropeSoutheastern EuropeCroatia  Euro+Med Editorial Committee. Euro+Med Plantbase: the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity (on-line resource).
1NativeEuropeSoutheastern EuropeItaly  Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
1NativeEuropeSoutheastern EuropeNorth Macedonia  Euro+Med Editorial Committee. Euro+Med Plantbase: the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity (on-line resource).
1NativeEuropeSoutheastern EuropeRomania  Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
1NativeEuropeSoutheastern EuropeSerbia  Euro+Med Editorial Committee. Euro+Med Plantbase: the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity (on-line resource).
1NativeEuropeSoutheastern EuropeSlovenia  Euro+Med Editorial Committee. Euro+Med Plantbase: the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity (on-line resource).
1NativeEuropeSouthwestern EuropeFrance  Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
1NativeEuropeSouthwestern EuropePortugal  Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
1NativeEuropeSouthwestern EuropeSpain  Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
1NativeNorthern AmericaNorthwestern U.S.A.United StatesColoradow.FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America.
1NativeNorthern AmericaNorthwestern U.S.A.United StatesIdaho FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America.
1NativeNorthern AmericaNorthwestern U.S.A.United StatesMontanaw.FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America.
1NativeNorthern AmericaNorthwestern U.S.A.United StatesOregonn.FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America.
1NativeNorthern AmericaNorthwestern U.S.A.United StatesWashingtone.FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America.
1NativeNorthern AmericaNorthwestern U.S.A.United StatesWyomingw.Dorn, R. D. 1977. Manual of the vascular plants of Wyoming
1NativeNorthern AmericaSouth-Central U.S.A.United StatesNew Mexico FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America.
1NativeNorthern AmericaSouthwestern U.S.A.United StatesArizonan.FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America.
1NativeNorthern AmericaSouthwestern U.S.A.United StatesNevada FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America.
1NativeNorthern AmericaSouthwestern U.S.A.United StatesUtahe.FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America.
1NativeNorthern AmericaSubarctic AmericaGreenland s.w.Vander Kloet, S. P. & T. A. Dickinson. 1999. The taxonomy of Vaccinium section Myrtillus. Brittonia 51:246-247.
1NativeNorthern AmericaWestern CanadaCanadaAlbertas.w.Scoggan, H. J. 1978-1979. The flora of Canada, 4 vol.
1NativeNorthern AmericaWestern CanadaCanadaBritish Columbias.e.Scoggan, H. J. 1978-1979. The flora of Canada, 4 vol.
Native
Asia-Temperate
  • WESTERN ASIA: Turkey (n.)
  • CAUCASUS: Russian Federation-Ciscaucasia [Ciscaucasia], Armenia, Georgia, Russian Federation [Dagestan]
  • SIBERIA: Russian Federation-Western Siberia [Western Siberia], Russian Federation-Eastern Siberia [Eastern Siberia]
  • MONGOLIA: Mongolia
  • EASTERN ASIA: Japan [Honshu (n. & c.)]
Europe
  • NORTHERN EUROPE: Denmark, Finland, United Kingdom, Ireland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden
  • MIDDLE EUROPE: Austria, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia
  • EASTERN EUROPE: Russian Federation-European part [European part], Belarus, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Moldova, Ukraine
  • SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE: Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Italy, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia
  • SOUTHWESTERN EUROPE: Spain, France, Portugal
Northern America
  • SUBARCTIC AMERICA: Greenland (s.w.)
  • WESTERN CANADA: Canada [Alberta (s.w.), British Columbia (s.e.)]
  • NORTHWESTERN U.S.A.: United States [Colorado (w.), Idaho, Montana (w.), Oregon (n.), Washington (e.), Wyoming (w.)]
  • SOUTH-CENTRAL U.S.A.: United States [New Mexico]
  • SOUTHWESTERN U.S.A.: United States [Arizona (n.), Nevada, Utah (e.)]

Reference(s)
  1. Davis, P. H., ed. 1965-1988. Flora of Turkey and the east Aegean islands.
  2. Dorn, R. D. 1977. Manual of the vascular plants of Wyoming
  3. Euro+Med Editorial Committee. Euro+Med Plantbase: the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity (on-line resource).
  4. FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America.
  5. Iwatsuki, K. et al. 1993-. Flora of Japan. Note: = Vaccinium yatabei Makino
  6. Komarov, V. L. et al., eds. 1934-1964. Flora SSSR.
  7. Laasimer, L. et al., eds. 1993-. Flora of the Baltic countries; compendium of vascular plants.
  8. Scoggan, H. J. 1978-1979. The flora of Canada, 4 vol.
  9. Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
  10. Vander Kloet, S. P. & T. A. Dickinson. 1999. The taxonomy of Vaccinium section Myrtillus. Brittonia 51:246-247.
  11. Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
Economic Uses
UsageTypeNoteReference
Animal foodforagefor wildlifeShibli, R. A. & M. A. L. Smith. 1996. Direct shoot regeneration from Vaccinium pahalae (Ohelo) and V. myrtillus (bilberry) leaf explants. HortScience 31:1225-1228.
Bee plantshoney production Komarov, V. L. et al., eds. 1934-1964. Flora SSSR.
Food additivescoloringfor wineKomarov, V. L. et al., eds. 1934-1964. Flora SSSR.
Human foodbeverage base Mabberley, D. J. 1997. The plant-book: a portable dictionary of the vascular plants, ed. 2
Human foodfruit Mabberley, D. J. 1997. The plant-book: a portable dictionary of the vascular plants, ed. 2
Materialstannin/dyestuff Komarov, V. L. et al., eds. 1934-1964. Flora SSSR.
Medicinesfolklore McGuffin, M., J. T. Kartesz, A. Y. Leung, & A. O. Tucker. 2000. Herbs of commerce, ed. 2 American Herbal Products Association, Silver Spring, Maryland.
Medicinesfolklorecontains anthocianidosesDuke, J. A. et al. 2002. CRC Handbook of medicinal herbs
Cite as: USDA, Agricultural Research Service, National Plant Germplasm System. 2026. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN Taxonomy). National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland.
URL: https://npgstest.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomydetail?id=41040. Accessed 12 May 2026.