Woodland plants · Vaccinium myrtillus
Discovering bilberry
Low among moss and leaves grows the woodland bilberry. Puschel spots its little leaves and learns how it differs from garden blueberries.
The short answer
Bilberry is a small, low-growing shrub. It has small oval leaves and green, angled stems.
An imagined Wusel scene
Puschel and Flauschi investigate
‘There are tiny blue balls!’ says Puschel, pointing to a low shrub.
Flauschi first looks at the small leaves and green stems. ‘That is a bilberry plant. Its dark fruit comes in summer.’
Puschel pulls back his paw. ‘Let’s just look. We never taste an unknown wild plant.’
Plant clues
Three things to notice
Low shrub
Bilberry is a small, low-growing shrub.
Small leaves
It has small oval leaves and green, angled stems.
Dark fruit
Blue-black berries ripen in summer. Flowers come first.
Mini quiz
What do you remember?
1. How does bilberry grow?
Choose one answer: a), b) or c).
- a)As a tall tree
- b)As a climbing plant
- c)As a low shrub
Show answer
Correct answer: c): As a low shrub As a low shrub.
2. When can the dark berries ripen?
Choose one answer: a), b) or c).
- a)Only in winter
- b)In summer
- c)In spring before flowering
Show answer
Correct answer: b): In summer In summer, after flowering.
Explore in more detail
Here you will find longer explanations and further details. You can explore them together.
Bilberry or garden blueberry?
Bilberry is a low shrub with green, angular twigs. Its berries have dark flesh as well as dark skin. The larger cultivated blueberries sold in shops come from other species and usually have pale flesh. The same blue outer colour does not mean the same species.
Compare and understand
Berries develop after the flowers. For the plant, they are seed-bearing fruits, not sweets made specially for people. Animals can help spread seeds. Observe flowers and later fruits on the same known shrub from a distance; knowledgeable adults select safe fruit for eating.