Bog Blueberry

Vaccinium uliginosum

Ericaceae · broadleaf deciduous shrub · native

Last updated May 10, 2026

Bog blueberry (bog bilberry) is a native broadleaf shrub reaching 2 ft with multiple stems and semi-erect form. It produces urn-shaped white to pink flowers and blue edible berries with dark green foliage.

Bog blueberry is hardy in zones 2a-8b and thrives in sun to part shade with well-drained, acidic soil (pH 4.5-5.7) and moderate moisture. Growth is moderate with low drought tolerance, suiting it to naturally moist conditions. Large quantities of fruit may cause headaches due to fungal infestation.

Quick Facts

Height

2 ft

Growth Rate

Moderate

Light

Sun to Part Shade

Soil

Well Drained

Water

Moderate

Hardiness

Zone Zones 2a–8b

Bloom Time

Jun 1-Jun 30

Origin

Pacific Northwest native

RustHigh

Aecial Stage (Alternate Host)

Twig BlightHigh

Spring Spore Release

Verticillium WiltHigh

Root Colonization Period

Armillaria Root RotModerate

Active Below-ground Growth

+ 2 more — see full disease and pest lists below

Phenological Calendar

Stage	Typical Window	What to Look For
Bud break BBCH 07	Feb 15-Mar 15	Buds swelling and beginning to open; first green tissue visible
Leaf emergence BBCH 11	Mar 1-Apr 1	First leaves fully unfurled on new growth
Bloom start BBCH 61	Jun 1-Jun 30	First open flowers visible; flowers purple
Bloom end / petal fall BBCH 69	Jun 15-Jul 15	Last petals falling; flower structures fading
Fruit/seed development BBCH 71	Jun 1-Aug 31	Fruit or seed structures forming; fruit color: blue
Leaf drop BBCH 93	Oct 15-Nov 30	Leaves yellowing and dropping; no significant fall color display
Dormancy BBCH 97	Nov 15-Feb 28	Leafless; no active growth; dormant buds set

Diseases: Regionally Documented (41)

Alternaria spp Alternaria Fruit Rot Armillaria spp. — primarily A Armillaria Root Rot Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae Bacterial Canker Botrytis Blight Chemical Injury Rhizobium radiobacter (formerly Agrobacterium tumefaciens) Crown Gall Godronia cassandrae Fusicoccum Canker (Godronia Canker) Incorrect soil pH Monilinia vaccinii-corymbosi Mummy Berry Xiphinema americanum and related species Nematode, Dagger Pratylenchus penetrans (primary) and P Nematode, Root-lesion Paratrichodorus renifer Nematode, Stubby-root Colletotrichum spp. Ripe Rot (Anthracnose) Symptom category — not a single disease Root Rot Multiple genera (Melampsoridium, Thekopsora, Naohidemyces... Rust Blueberry scorch virus (BlScV) Scorch Blueberry shock virus (BlShV) Shock Chondrostereum purpureum Silver Leaf Botryosphaeria corticis Stem Canker Multiple fungal species cause twig blight on different ho... Twig Blight Sporocadus lichenicola Twig Canker Verticillium dahliae Verticillium Wilt Blueberry mosaic virus and related viruses Virus Diseases Gymnosporangium spp. [VERIFY: hosts inconsistent with G Witches' Broom Rust Botryosphaeria spp. Botryosphaeria Fruit Rot and Berry Speckle Abiotic (symptom) Cottonball Phyllosticta cotoneastri (primary); Entomosporium maculat... Early Leaf Spot Cranberry false blossom virus False Blossom Phytophthora cactorum Fruit Rot Various plant-parasitic nematode genera Nematodes Phytophthora Root and Runner Rot Pyrenobotrys compacta Pyrenobotrys Leaf Spot Phyllosticta cotoneastri Red Leaf Spot Phytophthora spp. or environmental Red Shoot Rose Bloom Diaporthe vaccinii (asexual: Phomopsis vaccinii) Upright Dieback Raspberry bushy dwarf virus and related viruses Virus Abiotic or fungal Leaf Gall Symptom category — not a single disease Leaf Spot Ramorum Blight (Sudden Oak Death) [AUDIT NOTE] This is a malformed bulk-import artifact, no... Diseases

Data Maturity

Baseline Extension data. Expert review underway.