Lingonberry

About

Lingonberry is a neighbor of the blueberry in the Carpathian spruce forests and on polonynas, but it is found less frequently and prefers brighter, drier places: rocky slopes, forest edges near the upper tree line, and thickets of juniper and dwarf pine. It is most abundant in high massifs, near the upper tree line. The name 'Lingonberry' is also used for certain Carpathian localities and settlements.

This evergreen shrub is 10–25 cm tall. The leaves are leathery, glossy, dark green, with slightly rolled edges; underneath they are lighter and dotted with small dark glands. The flowers are bell-shaped, white or pale pink, gathered in short drooping racemes at the ends of the branches, appearing in May–June.

The berries are round, 6–10 mm, initially white, then bright red, shiny, with a tart-bitter taste. They ripen in late summer and autumn, mainly in August and September. They store well due to natural preservatives, so lingonberries have been harvested for winter for a long time.

Lingonberry can be confused with bearberry, which has leaves without spots underneath, with a distinct network of veins, and its berries are mealy and tasteless. There are almost no poisonous lookalikes that resemble lingonberry in the Carpathians, but the red berries of wolf berries and lily of the valley can also be found in the forest: both of these plants have completely different leaves and berries, so check the shrub thoroughly.

Where in the Carpathians

The map shows where naturalists recorded the species (GBIF, CC0 and CC BY records), not every place it lives. The Ukrainian Carpathians are less studied, so a blank area does not mean the species is absent.

Countries

Slovakia · Ukraine · Poland · Romania · Czechia

Mountain ranges

Western Tatras, High Tatras, Low Tatras, Lesser Fatra, Greater Fatra, Żywiec Beskids, Slovak Paradise, Belianske Tatras, Volovec Mountains, Slovak Ore Mountains

Altitude belts

Beech forests (600–1200 m) · Conifer forests (1200–1600 m) · Subalpine belt (1600–1900 m)

When to see it

From naturalists’ observations in the Carpathians (iNaturalist, research grade): the darker the cell, the more often the species is seen that month.

Safety

Collect only berries from the evergreen shrub with leathery leaves that have dark spots underneath. Do not give unfamiliar berries to children and teach them not to taste anything in the forest without adults.

Look-alikes — how to tell them apart

In folk tradition

The berries are traditionally soaked, made into jams and sauces; the leaves are brewed like tea.

Protection and rules

Not protected. It can be collected for personal use in state and communal forests; prohibited in reserves and protected areas of national parks.

FAQ