Species library · Plants & herbs

Foraging Lingonberry

Vaccinium vitis-idaea

Typically in season from July to October, peaking around August to October in the northern hemisphere. Found in Woodland, Heath & moor. Has toxic lookalikes, so check carefully.

Lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea)

Photo: (c) Valerii Glazunov, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Valerii Glazunov · iNaturalist

When Lingonberry is in season

Typical window in the northern hemisphere, peak August to October. The southern hemisphere runs about six months offset, and your own timing depends on local weather, so check your town.

→ Everything in season to forage in September

Where it grows

Lingonberry is usually found in Woodland, Heath & moor.

⚠ Look-alikes & safety

Toxic look-alikes: Wild cotoneaster, Bearberry, Small cranberry. Only forage with a confident ID.

Take Lingonberry into the field

Open Lingonberry in the Forage app for its full field guide entry with more photos, key features and toxic lookalikes to check against. Add it to your watchlist and the app pings you the moment it comes into season at your exact spot, worked out from live weather, elevation and billions of occurrence records.

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Lingonberry: common questions

When is Lingonberry in season?

Lingonberry is generally in season from July to October, with its peak around August to October in temperate northern regions. The exact timing shifts with latitude, elevation and each year's weather. Check the Season Finder for your own location.

Where does Lingonberry grow?

Lingonberry is usually found in Woodland, Heath & moor.

Is Lingonberry safe to forage?

Toxic look-alikes: Wild cotoneaster, Bearberry, Small cranberry. Only forage with a confident ID. Never eat any wild plant, berry, nut or mushroom unless you are completely certain of the identification. Check every find against a reliable field guide, and when in doubt, don't.

One note before you head out

Forage helps you discover and identify wild plants, but identification is never 100% certain. Many edible plants have toxic lookalikes. Never eat anything you find based only on what this app tells you. Always confirm with a field guide, an experienced forager or a local expert. The season score tells you where to look, too: it’s not a guarantee. Mind conservation law and property rights as well.

Species photos via Wikimedia Commons and iNaturalist · full credits