Dwarf Bilberry

How to grow Dwarf Bilberry

Written by the GardenDecoded editorial team · Last reviewed 21 July 2026 · Written for UK gardens · How we research our guidance

Planting

Plant in autumn or spring into genuinely acid ground. On neutral or alkaline soil it will not succeed in the open border, so grow it in a container of ericaceous compost instead. Mulch with composted bark or leafmould and keep the roots cool.

Pruning

Very little needed. Remove dead or damaged stems in late winter and thin out the oldest wood occasionally on established plants to encourage new shoots from the base.

Propagation

Semi-ripe cuttings in summer, or by separating rooted suckers. Both are slow. Seed needs cold stratification and is slower still.

Pests and diseases

Few problems in suitable conditions. Yellowing leaves almost always indicate the soil is not acid enough rather than a disease. Birds take the fruit.

Value to wildlife

A significant native shrub of upland heath and woodland: the small pink flowers support bumblebees in spring and the berries feed birds and small mammals.

Notes

This is the native bilberry, not the cultivated blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) — it is much lower growing and the crop is small and fiddly to pick. Grow it for its habitat value and its place in a native planting rather than as a serious fruit crop.

This guidance was researched and written by GardenDecoded — see our editorial policy for how guides are checked and reviewed.

Other names for this plant

These names have all been used for Vaccinium myrtillus but are no longer the accepted name. You may still meet them on old labels, in books, or in nursery catalogues.

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