Vaccinium vitis-idaea (lingonberry, Northern mountain cranberry, alpine cranberry)

Lingonberry, Northern Lingonberry, Northern Mountain-cranberry, Cowberry

Slow, low-growing, evergreen shrub; small (0.4 to 1 inch long) leaves are alternate, leathery, and evergreen. Flowers are sweet, white or light pink, bell-shaped, and nodding. Attractive red berries, leaves, and berries form an attractive groundcovers

Berries are edible, and related to the blueberry, huckleberry, and cranberry, The fruit resembles a cranberry in size, with a mildly tart flavor, often eaten raw or used in jams, juices, wine, baking, etc, sometimes pickled.

The leaves and berries are used to make medicine. The fruit is high in antioxidants (polyphenols) and is highly nutritious, often considered superior to its relatives, and considered a ‘superfood’.