Vaccinium vitis-idaea

Cowberry or lowbush cranberry is an evergreen shrub with delicious fruit. Though it is not considered a true cranberry in English speaking countries, in Central Europe this species is the one commonly used for cranberry preserves and typical sweet and sour tasting chutneys.

Its evergreen leaves are leathery, broadly elliptic, small, and glossy. Urn-shaped flowers are white or light pink and appear in late spring and early summer, and are followed by spherical, bright red and glossy, edible fruit. It is known for successful healing of urinary tracts where bacteria causing the infection are surrounded by the cranberry substance and maneuvered out of the body without letting the bacteria cause any damage. The fruit is picked once it gains bright red colour in early autumn, or after the first frost if you are making jams and preserves out of it. If you want to make a 100% healthy product we suggest using only fructose or natural cane sugar as opposed to white sugar which degrades any healthy food.

Lowbush cranberry forms a low, ground-covering, slow-growing shrub. It likes filtered sunlight or full sun and needs acidic, well-drained soil. Usage of organic fertilizers for ericaceous plants will enhance growth rate and crop. Fully hardy to -45°C (USDA zone 2).

Last update 02-02-2011