Side by side
Bilberry or cowberry? How to tell them apart
Vaccinium myrtillus · Vaccinium vitis-idaea
How to tell them apart – bilberry: deciduous, with pale green, finely toothed leaves, green angular twigs and blue berries; cowberry: evergreen dwarf shrub with small, glossy, leathery leaves, white bells and clusters of red berries.
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How do you recognise them?
- Bilberry
- Dwarf shrub with green, sharply angled twigs, finely toothed pale green leaves and bluish-black berries with a waxy bloom.
- Compared with cowberry: deciduous, with pale green, finely toothed leaves, green angular twigs and blue berries.
- Cowberry
- Evergreen dwarf shrub with small, glossy, leathery leaves, white bells and clusters of red berries.
| Bilberry | Cowberry | |
|---|---|---|
| Leaves | Alternate, ovate, 1–3 cm, finely toothed and bright pale green; shed in autumn after turning red. | Alternate, oval, 1–3 cm, leathery, glossy dark green with a slightly rolled edge; paler underneath, with dark gland dots. |
| Flowering | Greenish to pink, globe-shaped bells (5 mm), usually single in the leaf axils, April–June (April–May). | White to pink bells (5–8 mm) in short, nodding clusters at the tips, May–June (May–June). |
| Fruit | Bluish-black berries with a waxy bloom (5–10 mm) and purple flesh that stains tongue and fingers, July–August. | Glossy red, sour berries (5–10 mm) in clusters, August–October. |
| Bark | Green, sharply angled twigs that stay green in winter, growing from creeping underground runners. | Thin, upright stems growing from creeping underground runners. |
| Shape and height | Dwarf shrub, 20–50 cm | Dwarf shrub, 10–30 cm |
| Site | Sun or partial shade, acid soil, normal | Sun or partial shade, acid soil, normal |
| Native to Belgium | Yes | Yes |
| Good for bees, butterflies and birds | – | – |
| Poisonous to people and pets | Not known to be poisonous | Not known to be poisonous |
| Pruning months | March–April | March–April |
What does it mean for your garden?
- Both are native and good for wildlife: choose what suits your soil, your light and the space you have.
Read on
- Plant profile: Bilberry
- Plant profile: Cowberry
- Bilberry: when and how to prune
- Cowberry: when and how to prune
- Identification key
Also looks like
This comparison is compiled from the Bladwijzer species pages.