lingonberry, Partridgeberry, Cowberry, Foxberry, Quailberry, Mountain Cranberry, Red Whortleberry, Lowbush Cranberry, Mountain Bilberry, Ericaceae:
This species is a low-growing, typically less than 12 inches (12 in = 30.5 cm) tall, woody subshrub. Plants have evergreen foliage and a groundcover like habit. It is closely related to Gaultheria procumbens partridgeberry. The flowers bloom in late spring and early summer and berries ripen in August. The red fruits are tart and smaller than cranberries. They are adapted for acid soils with a pH of 3.5 to 5.3. They have fine roots that spread through the top of the soil, and they spread by way of runners which develop buds and new shoots. These small plants are slow to establish and should be hand-weeding, mulched over the winter and frequently watering for the first two years. The plants and fruits are beautiful, making nice ornamentals under acidic conditions. More fruit is produced in full sun, but plants grow in dappled shade also. They do not like warm conditions with high humidity and thus are best in areas with cool summers. Plants are intolerant of dry conditions or droughts that dry out the top soil layer.
sow outdoors, best with 2-4 weeks at 68ºF, 4-6 mths at 21ºF,
move to 53ºF for germination.
100 seeds
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