Vaccinium praestans

Vaccinium praestans, or Kamchatka bilberry, belongs to the heath family, Ericaceae. It is a small deciduous shrub from temperate eastern Asia. Its native range spans the Russian Far East and parts of Japan. These include Sakhalin, the Kurile Islands, Hokkaido, and northern and central Honshu. Wild plants grow in mossy bogs and swampy woods. They also grow on slopes and higher ground. In wet woods, they may grow on fallen, rotting trunks.

This low shrub spreads to form a mat. Garden plants reach about 0.3–1.6 feet [0.1–0.5 metres] in height and width. The RHS gives two to five years to reach full size. Its green leaves carry varying amounts of red. They are larger than those of most other Vaccinium species. The plant sheds its leaves rather than keeping them through winter. Its small flowers form white or pink bells. Bright red berries follow the flowers, adding colour to the low growth.

The fruit is edible, both raw and cooked. Each berry measures about 0.04 feet [0.012 metres] across. Plants For A Future describes a sweet, fragrant taste resembling strawberries. It gives the fruit an edibility score of four out of five. The same source lists no known hazards or medicinal uses. That lack of reported hazards does not establish safety for pets. The evidence supports growing this shrub for fruit and ground cover.

Choose acid soil that stays moist but drains well. Loam and sand both suit it. Give the plant a sheltered spot rather than an exposed site. In northern areas, full sun or light shade can suit it. In southern areas, the RHS advises light shade. Cool, moist, shaded spaces also suit its use as ground cover. It can grow along a sunny woodland edge or in dappled shade. The RHS rates its hardiness H7, which covers very severe European winters. Plants For A Future lists USDA zones 4–8.

The plant needs no routine pruning and has few pest problems. Disease can still affect it, including powdery mildew and root rot. Honey fungus is a less frequent risk. Iron and manganese shortages may cause chlorosis, which means leaves lose their green colour. Take softwood cuttings in late spring to raise more plants. Semi-ripe cuttings in summer offer another way to propagate it. Plants For A Future does not flag it as weedy.