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|genus=Vaccinium
|genus=Vaccinium
|species=vitis-idaea
|species=vitis-idaea
|Min ht metric=cm
|common_name=Cowberry
|name_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
|habit=shrub
|habit_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
|Min ht box=2
|Min ht metric=ft
|Max ht box=4
|Max ht metric=ft
|height_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
|Max wd box=6
|Max wd metric=in
|width_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
|lifespan=perennial
|life_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
|exposure=part-sun
|sun_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
|water=moist
|water_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
|Temp Metric=°F
|Temp Metric=°F
|min_zone=2
|usda_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
|max_zone=8.5
|image=Vaccinium vitis-idaea 20060824 003.jpg
|image=Vaccinium vitis-idaea 20060824 003.jpg
|image_width=240
|image_width=240
The native habitat is the circumboreal [[forest]]s of northern [[Eurasia]] and [[North America]], extending from [[temperate climate|cool temperate]] into [[subarctic climate|subarctic]] climates. It is seldom cultivated, but the fruit are commonly collected in the wild.
The native habitat is the circumboreal [[forest]]s of northern [[Eurasia]] and [[North America]], extending from [[temperate climate|cool temperate]] into [[subarctic climate|subarctic]] climates. It is seldom cultivated, but the fruit are commonly collected in the wild.
''Vaccinium vitis-idaea'' typically grows to 10–40 cm in height and has a compact spreading habit, often forming extensive dense [[clonal colony|clonal colonies]] spreading by underground [[rhizomes]]. The stems are light brown. The leaves are oval, 5–30 mm long, with an entire margin and often a notched apex. The [[flower]]s are bell-shaped, white to pale pink, 3–8 mm long, and produced in the early summer. The fruit, actually a [[false berry]], is red, 6–10 mm diameter, with an acidic taste, ripening in late summer to autumn.<ref name="Flora"/><ref name="FNA">Flora of North America: [http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=200016732 ''Vaccinium vitis-idaea'']</ref>
''Vaccinium vitis-idaea'' typically grows to 10–40 cm in height and has a compact spreading habit, often forming extensive dense [[clonal colony|clonal colonies]] spreading by underground [[rhizomes]]. The stems are light brown. The leaves are oval, 5–30 mm long, with an entire margin and often a notched apex. The [[flower]]s are bell-shaped, white to pale pink, 3–8 mm long, and produced in the early summer. The fruit, actually a [[false berry]], is red, 6–10 mm diameter, with an acidic taste, ripening in late summer to autumn.<ref name="Flora"/><ref name="FNA">Flora of North America: [http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=200016732 ''Vaccinium vitis-idaea'']</ref>
The plant is only semi-woody but keeps its leaves all winter even in the coldest years, unusual for a broadleaf plant, though they are usually protected from severe cold by [[snow]] cover. It is extremely hardy, tolerating −40 °C or lower, but grows poorly where summers are hot. It prefers some shade (as from a forest canopy) and constantly moist, [[acid]]ic soil. Nutrient-poor soils are tolerated but not [[base (chemistry)|alkaline]] soils.
The plant is only semi-woody but keeps its leaves all winter even in the coldest years, unusual for a broadleaf plant, though they are usually protected from severe cold by [[snow]] cover. It is extremely hardy, tolerating −40 °C or lower, but grows poorly where summers are hot. It prefers some shade (as from a forest canopy) and constantly moist, [[acid]]ic soil. Nutrient-poor soils are tolerated but not [[base (chemistry)|alkaline]] soils.
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==Varieties==
==Varieties==
There are two very similar regional [[variety (biology)|varieties]] or [[subspecies]] of ''Vaccinium vitis-idaea'', one in Eurasia and one in North America; they differ in leaf size, though with some overlap:
There are two very similar regional [[variety (biology)|varieties]] or [[subspecies]] of ''Vaccinium vitis-idaea'', one in Eurasia and one in North America; they differ in leaf size, though with some overlap:
*''Vaccinium vitis-idaea'' var. ''vitis-idaea'' L. (syn. ''Vaccinium vitis-idaea'' subsp. ''vitis-idaea''). '''Cowberry'''. Eurasia. Leaves 10–30 mm long.<ref name="Flora"/>
*''Vaccinium vitis-idaea'' var. ''vitis-idaea'' L. (syn. ''Vaccinium vitis-idaea'' subsp. ''vitis-idaea''). '''Cowberry'''. Eurasia. Leaves 10–30 mm long.<ref name="Flora"/>
*''Vaccinium vitis-idaea'' var. ''minus'' Lodd. (syn. ''Vaccinium vitis-idaea'' subsp. ''minus'' (Lodd.) Hultén). '''Lingonberry'''. North America. Leaves 5–18 mm long.<ref name="FNA"/>
*''Vaccinium vitis-idaea'' var. ''minus'' Lodd. (syn. ''Vaccinium vitis-idaea'' subsp. ''minus'' (Lodd.) Hultén). '''Lingonberry'''. North America. Leaves 5–18 mm long.<ref name="FNA"/>
==Gallery==
==Gallery==
