Vaccinium ciliatum

Thunb.

Ericaceae Edible: Fruit 2 iNaturalist observations

Has a deadly poisonous lookalike — see comparison below

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Summary

Deciduous shrub reaching 2 m with hermaphrodite flowers pollinated by insects and blooming June to July. Prefers light sandy or medium loamy, well-drained soils with mildly acid to very acid pH. Tolerates semi-shade or full sun in moist soil conditions.

Description

Edible Uses

The fruit can be eaten raw or cooked. It is a globose berry about 7mm in diameter, bluish-black in colour with a dense white mealy coating.

Medicinal Uses

None known.

Distribution

It is a temperate plant.

Where It Grows

Asia, Japan, Korea,

Cultivation

Requires a moist but freely-draining lime free soil, preferring one that is rich in peat or a light loamy soil with added leaf-mould. Prefers a very acid soil with a pH in the range of 4.5 to 6, plants soon become chlorotic when lime is present. Succeeds in full sun or light shade though it fruits better in a sunny position. Requires shelter from strong winds. There is some confusion over this name. V. ciliatum. G.Don. non Thunb. is given as a synonym for V. oldhamii. Dislikes root disturbance, plants are best grown in pots until being planted out in their permanent positions. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus.

Propagation

Sow seed in late winter in a greenhouse using a lime-free potting mix, barely covering the seed. Stored seed may need up to 3 months of cold stratification. Alternatively, sow fresh seed in a greenhouse as soon as it is ripe. Prick seedlings out into individual pots once they reach about 5cm tall, and grow them on in a lightly shaded greenhouse position for at least their first winter. Plant out in late spring or early summer after the last expected frosts. Half-ripe cuttings, 5–8cm with a heel, can be taken in August and rooted in a frame, though this is slow and difficult. Layering can be done in late summer or early autumn — or in spring according to some sources — and takes 18 months. Suckers can be divided in spring or early autumn.

Other Uses

None known.

Dangerous Lookalikes

This plant can be confused with the following toxic species. Always verify identification carefully before consuming any wild plant.

DEADLY

Deadly Nightshade

Atropa belladonna

Joan Simon from Barcelona, España

Safe

Vaccinium ciliatum

Wikimedia Commons - Σ64

Deadly Nightshade: Tall herbaceous plant (1-2m), single shiny black cherry-sized berries, star-shaped calyx, large oval leaves, sweet but dangerous taste.

Vaccinium ciliatum: Low woody shrub, berries in clusters with crown/remnant calyx ring, sweet taste.