These blueberries are found in North America, as well as Japan, Korea, Mongolia, Russia,
and Europe.
Identification: Shrubs are 20-39" (50-100 cm) high.
When found on mountains, shrubs are usually 4-6" (10-15 cm) high. Leaves are
obovate to elliptic to oblong, ⅜-1" (1-3 cm) × ⅛-½" (6-15 mm).
Flowers are pink (really white/pink striped), urn-shaped. They appear in June.
Berries are dark blue and
covered with a waxy whitish coating.
This Vaccinium comparision chart also includes a couple of similar-appearing species
that are not Vaccinium.
Edibility: Delicious. Headaches have been reported
after eating large quantities of the fruit, but this may be a result of fungal contamination.
Online References:
Vaccinium uliginosum on Plants for a Future, a resource and information centre for edible and otherwise useful plants