Lingonberry Fireballs

A  lingonberry, closely related to blueberries, Vaccinium vitis-idaea Fireballs is a semi-evergreen, sprawling shrub, with rich green, lustrous leaves. The flowers are bell-shaped and white, appearing in spring. Tart, bright red berries slowly ripen in late Summer and into the Autumn, they are good for jams and sauces (as in IKEA) and the benefits of this variety, V. Fireballs is that the berries are numerous and stay on the plant for a long time. If you want to grow it in a pot, use soil-based ericaceous compost. Feed in spring with sulphate of ammonia or sulphate of potash and bonemeal and top-dress with ericaceous compost. The plants are self-fertile, but for many berries, plant several in one place. Prune in winter, cutting out dead or damaged branches.

Site: Sheltered
Soil: Any moist but well-drained, acid soil
Position: Full sun to partial shade
Season of interest: All year, spring and autumn in particular
Hardiness: Extremely hardy to -35° Celsius
Height:  30” (75cm) Spread: 30” (75cm) in 10-20 years