Flower profile

Bog bilberry

Vaccinium uliginosum

Bog bilberry (Vaccinium uliginosum) is a shrub in the Ericaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly June–July across the U.S.

Native to Alaska

Bog bilberry is a flowering plant that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In Alaska it's most often seen in bloom in May–July.

15states where USDA records it

1,497AK sightings*

4,910U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Alaska

Quick look

Vaccinium uliginosum is a Eurasian and North American flowering plant in the heath family. The berries are edible.
From Wikipedia's article Vaccinium uliginosum, CC BY-SA 4.0.

It belongs to the Ericaceae family. ^iNaturalist
USDA PLANTS describes it as a shrub / a subshrub with a perennial life cycle. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 15 states. ^{USDA PLANTS}
NatureServe lists it as native to Alaska. ^NatureServe
In Alaska, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May–July. ^iNaturalist
USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as purple. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as early summer. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 2 ft. ^{USDA PLANTS}
iNaturalist has 1,497 research-grade sightings of it in Alaska, ranking #22 among the 121 flowers on our Alaska list. ^iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

In Alaska, most flowering sightings come in May–July.

Flowering records by month in Alaska (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (60 records)

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA): Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. ^{USFWS ECOS}
NatureServe global: G5 Secure worldwide. ^NatureServe
Alaska: No list Alaska has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Alaska ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Alaska.
Rare elsewhere: Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: MI (S2), MN (S1), NV (S2), VT (S2). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records bog bilberry in 15 states.

AKMEVTNHWAIDMTNDMNILWIMINYRIMAORNVWYSDIAINOHPANJCTCAUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDEAZNMKSARTNNCSCDCOKLAMSALGAHITXFL

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alaska, California, Idaho, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, Oregon, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wyoming.

Alaska counties with USDA records: Aleutians East, Aleutians West, Anchorage, Bethel, Bristol Bay, Chugach, Copper River, Denali, Dillingham, Fairbanks North Star, Haines, Juneau, Kenai Peninsula, Ketchikan Gateway, Kodiak Island, Lake and Peninsula, Matanuska-Susitna, Nome, North Slope, Northwest Arctic, Sitka, Southeast Fairbanks, Yakutat, Yukon-Koyukuk.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives Bog bilberry a medium shade tolerance, low drought tolerance and medium moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 4.5 to 5.7 and winter lows down to -38 °F.

Shade tolerance: Medium
Drought tolerance: Low
Moisture use: Medium
Soil textures it is adapted to: medium
Soil pH range: 4.5 to 5.7
Minimum temperature tolerated: -38 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum): 90
Annual precipitation range: 18 to 45 inches
Minimum root depth: 12 inches
Salinity tolerance: None
Fertility requirement: Low
Growth rate: Moderate
Lifespan: Moderate
Active growth period: Spring and Summer
Fruit or seed: Blue · Summer to Summer
Can be propagated by: bare root, container, cuttings, seed
Commercial availability: Routinely Available

From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for VAUL. USDA ratings are general guidance for the species, not a guarantee for your garden.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Alaska: Native; Canada: Native; Greenland: Native; Lower 48 states: Native; St. Pierre and Miquelon: Native.

Other scientific names (synonyms in USDA PLANTS): Vaccinium occidentale.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 105 counties across 15 states; the most are in Alaska (24), California (19), Oregon (19).

Other Vaccinium on Bloomipedia (10): Sparkleberry, Lingonberry, Lowbush blueberry, Large cranberry, Shiny blueberry, Grouse whortleberry, Thinleaf huckleberry, 'ohelo 'ai, Mayberry, ʻōhelo kau lāʻau.

More from the Ericaceae family (55 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Ghost pipe, Rhododendrons and azaleas, Striped wintergreen, Mountain laurel, Eastern teaberry (wintergreen), Salal, Woodland pinedrops, Pinesap.

More Alaska flowers

Lingonberry

Vaccinium vitis-idaea

Native

🌼 Few flowering records in AK

Black crowberry

Empetrum nigrum

Native

🌼 Few flowering records in AK

Mock azalea

Rhododendron menziesii

Native

🌼 Few flowering records in AK

Sources

USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile VAUL.
iNaturalist, Vaccinium uliginosum: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
Wikipedia, Vaccinium uliginosum (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
Alaska: Alaska prohibited and restricted noxious weeds (11 AAC 34.020).
USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
NatureServe Explorer, Vaccinium uliginosum (global and state ranks).
Edibility and toxicity: no source found (marked "not well documented").
Photo: Matt Muir via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.