Nutri Herb

Herb Library:  Bilberry

Botanical Names

vaccinium myrtillus, vaccinium frondosum

Common Names

European bilberry, whortleberry, huckleberry, blaeberry, blueberry, whinberry, Myrtle blueberry, Fraughan, black whortles, trackleberry, hurts, hurtleberry, airelle

Plant Description

Bilberry is a low-growing shrub plant found in North America, Europe, and northern Asia. It usually only grows to 12 inches in height, but can reach 16 inches. It has small pink and white globular flowers and bears blue-black fruit, or berries.

Parts of Bilberry Used in Dietary Supplements

The fruit of the bilberry plant, harvested in late summer, is commonly used in herbal supplements, and sometimes the leaves.