Anyone growing Bilberry in So. Cal?

General Fruit Growing
1

I heard health benefits of Bilberry, not Blue Berry. I know how good blue berries are and they are two different plants.

I am wondering if anyone grows the Billberry in Southern California

2

Not in SoCal, but I started seeds of this after stratifying. Took about 1 and half weeks to sprout, and they look like they are heading in the right direction. Not sure how well they doing in the long run, but right now Iā€™m optimistic.

Its apperently also called the European Blueberry.

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3

There are several bilberries. Here are the species documented by GRIN and their most common names. Clicking on the links will provide more details.

Vaccinium cespitosum Michx.
Common Name dwarf bilberry

Vaccinium myrtillus L.
Common Name bilberry

Vaccinium myrtillus L.
Common Name dwarf bilberry

Vaccinium uliginosum L.
Common Name bog bilberry

Vaccinium bracteatum Thunb.
Common Name sea bilberry

Vaccinium ovalifolium Sm.
Common Name oval-leaf bilberry

Myrtillocactus geometrizans (Mart.) Console
Common Name bilberry cactus

Vaccinium deliciosum Piper
Common Name Cascade bilberry

Vaccinium meridionale Sw.
Common Name Jamaican bilberry

Vaccinium membranaceum Douglas ex Torr.
Common Name mountain bilberry

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4

As far as I know, bilberry grows in the far north, so it probably has a chilling requirement to set fruit.

5

Vaccinium myrtillus L.
Native:
ā€¦
NORTHWESTERN U.S.A.: United States [Colorado (w.), Idaho, Montana (w.), Oregon (n.), Washington (e.), Wyoming (w.)]
SOUTH-CENTRAL U.S.A.: United States [New Mexico]
SOUTHWESTERN U.S.A.: United States [Arizona (n.), Nevada, Utah (e.)]

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6

Ooo neat! Thanks for the correction, @Richard !