Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Vaccinium cespitosum, (also, caespitosum), the dwarf bilberry, is a species of flowering shrub in the genus which includes blueberries and cranberries. It is a low-lying plant rarely reaching half a meter in height which forms a carpetlike stand in rocky mountainous meadows. It is found across Canada and into the northern half of the United States. The foliage is reddish-green to green and the flowers are tiny urn-shaped light pink cups less than a centimeter wide. The fruits are edible blue bilberries.

Plant type

Shrub

Size

2 ft Tall

Calscape icon
Color

Pink

Flowering season

Summer

Special uses

Groundcover, Deer resistant

Sun

Deep Shade, Partial Shade

Water

Low

Ease of care

Moderate

Sunset Zones

1, 2, 4*, 5*, 6*, 14, 15, 16, 17

Site type

Disturbed places

Plant communities

Alpine Fell-Fields, Red Fir Forest, Subalpine Forest, Yellow Pine Forest

Caterpillars
Butterflies

Butterflies and moths supported

1 confirmed and 64 likely

Confirmed Likely

Sierra Sulphur

Colias behrii

Placid Dart

Abagrotis placida

Luteus Dart Moth

Abagrotis trigona

Sallow Button

Acleris hastiana