Produced by
Patti Moreno
Contributor to:
Lingonberries in the Edible Landscape
(originally published by Stark Bros)
Have you ever heard of lingonberries? Most likely, not. But if you know anything about Sweden or you’ve shopped at IKEA, you’ve at least heard them mentioned. Let me tell you what they are. The lingonberry is a hardy perennial evergreen shrub, closely related to blueberries and cranberries. They can be found in forests in northern Europe, Northern America and Canada. They are a small tasty berry that is a mainstay of Swedish cuisine. In Sweden and other parts of Europe, lingonberries are used in every thing imaginable, including wines, liqueurs, soda, jelly, jam, Swedish pancakes, sauces for with meats and fish dishes and any other time that blueberries or cranberries are used. The unique tartness of lingonberries offer a whole new dimension to traditional dishes.
The compact berry is the size of a small blueberry and forms from a small bell like white flower that starts off green, gradually turning red when ripe. In the video, you’ll see my daughter and me eagerly planting Lingonberries. There’s really nothing to it, but the wait. Like most berries, it can take 1-2 years for the lingonberries to appear. But while we wait, we have plenty of other things to do to keep us occupied!
A few delicious facts about Lingonberries:
- They are high in Vitamin A, B, & C
- Lingonberries produce natural phyto-chemicals (like anti-oxidants) that help prevent heart disease and help stop cancer
- Although they take time, they are generous, yielding two harvests a year: in mid summer (July) and another in late Fall through November
- Lingonberries will grow in zones 2-7, even Canada!
- Lingonberries will grow in shaded areas of your garden, which is why I have started to grow them!
- They’re small plants, growing only 1&1/2 feet tall and wide
- Their compact size makes the lingonberry plant perfect for containers and window boxes.
- Plant them 1&1/2’ apart as a border plant in place of boxwoods or instead of hollies or dwarf conifers.
- Lingonberry plants can be used instead of ground covers like vincas or varieties of sedum.
- Lingonberries enjoy a long shelf life when refrigerated
