Edible Landscapes: Lingonberries

Have you ever heard of lingonberries? Anyone in USDA Zone 7 or cooler can grow cold-hardy lingonberry plants right in their own backyard—and they’re as attractive as they are edible.

City girl that I am, I’ve known about lingonberries for quite some time thanks to the Swedish company IKEA. There, you can buy the berry in every form imaginable—lingonberry concentrate, soda, jelly, jam, and more… so I don’t have to tell you they are delicious!

What are Lingonberries?

The lingonberry plant (Vaccinium vitis-idaea) is a hardy, perennial evergreen ground cover shrub that grows to about 12–18 inches tall. It’s native to the forests of Northern Europe, North America, and Canada, where it thrives in cooler climates.

Lingonberry plants bloom twice per year—once in spring and again in late summer—with delicate bell-shaped white to pale pink flowers. These blooms are small but striking, attracting pollinators and signaling the start of two separate fruiting periods.

The berries are about the size of wild blueberries and resemble cranberries in both flavor and appearance. They start green and gradually turn a vibrant red when ripe. In Zone 5, you can expect your first harvest in mid-August and a second in mid-October, thanks to the plant’s two bloom cycles.

How to grow Lingonberries

Lingonberries are surprisingly easy to grow, especially in cooler climates. Here’s what they need to thrive:

Soil: Acidic, well-drained soil is key (pH between 4.5 and 5.5 is ideal)
Sunlight: Full sun is best for fruiting, though plants tolerate partial shade
Watering: Keep soil consistently moist, but not soggy
Cold Hardiness: Excellent for northern gardens — hardy down to Zone 2

Expect fruit within 1–2 years after planting. Lingonberries, like the Koralle Lingonberry variety, are self-fertile, so you don’t need multiple plants for pollination, though a few together may boost your yield.

Their small size makes lingonberries versatile for landscaping, including:

Container gardening or window boxes
Low-growing borders instead of boxwoods or dwarf conifers
Ground cover alternatives to vincas or sedum
Companion planting with blueberries, azaleas, or rhododendrons

Uses for Lingonberries

You can use lingonberries in place of blueberries or cranberries in nearly any recipe. They have a tart-sweet flavor that complements both sweet and savory dishes. Some of the most popular uses include:

Juices and syrups
Jams, jellies, and preserves
Holiday sauces and glazes for pork, turkey, and lamb
Baked goods like muffins, tarts, and scones
Homemade wine and liqueurs

Thanks to their high level of benzoic acid, lingonberries have a long shelf life when refrigerated. They're also nutritionally impressive, offering:

Vitamins A, B & C
Powerful antioxidants
Natural compounds shown to support heart and immune health

For me and my family, the joy of gardening is found in the healthy varieties of fruits and vegetables we are able to grow in our edible landscape—and lingonberries have been a delightful and unexpected favorite.