Bilberry
Vaccinium myrtillus
At a glance
Name
Scientific Name
AKA
Frequency
Habitat
Parts Used
Summary
There’s a lot of interesting social history attached to the Bilberry. It’s an incredibly delicious, versatile, wild edibles and one of my absolute favourites.
Edibililty & Uses
The flowers, leaves and berries can all be harvested and are widely used in culinary and medicinal applications.
Parts Used
The berries can be eaten raw or used in sauces, jams, wines and anywhere else a chef might imagine.
The leaves and flowers are used to make herbal teas and medicines.
Be warned – you’ll have a stiff back and knees after Bilberry picking as they’re just a little too low, so bring a small child along for the harvesting.
When to forage?
The flowers and young leaves can be harvested in spring, and the berries ripen during the summer months.
Where to forage?
Bilberries are commonly found across the UK, preferring acidic soils in open woodlands, heathlands, rocky regions, and upland pastures.