Description

General - densely branched, matted, dwarf shrub, 5 - 30 cm tall; twigs rounded, yellowish green to reddish, hairless or with sparse, tiny hairs.

Leaves - oblong to lance-shaped, widest above middle, pointed or blunt at tip, tapers to base, 1-3 cm long; distinctly toothed on upper half; bright green and shiny on both sides, with pronounced network of veins below.

Flowers - 1-4 in leaf axils, whitish to pink, narrowly urn-shaped with 5 lobes, 4-5 mm long; appearing late May to early July.

Fruit - liight blue berries, with pale grey bloom, about 6 mm across; sweet.

Habitat

Woods (especially pine woods) to open slopes; widespread across southern boreal forest, north and west to central Yukon and southern Alaska.

Notes

The berries are excellent fresh or in pastries or conserves.

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