Featured Plant : LINGONBERRIES!
Ornamental Qualities of Lingonberries
Evergreen foliage
Low-growing, spreading habit
White flowers in spring and again in summer
Bright red (delicious) berries in fall-winter
Red/ green winter color
Attracts wildlife
Tolerates acidic soils
Tolerates partial shade conditions
Lingonberry Recipes
Lingonberry Sauce
This is a simple recipe that goes great over oatmeal, pancakes, or waffles. Also, try it as a substitute for cranberry sauce alongside meat and potato dishes.
2 quarts fresh lingonberries
1 cup water
3 cups sugar, or to taste
Add ingredients to a saucepan over medium heat. Stir constantly to dissolve sugar. When sauce starts to warm up, mash with a potato masher to release berry juice. Bring to a boil and then simmer about 10 minutes. Serve warm or chilled.
Lingonberry Care
Plant Lingonberries in full to partial sun. They may benefit from afternoon shade in hottest regions. Soil should be well-drained and rich in organic matter. Lingonberries need an acidic soil. Our native Portland soil tends to be acidic, but if in doubt, use a soil pH tester. Elemental sulphur can be added to lower the pH over time. Also try mulching with pine needles, leaves, or pouring leftover coffee and coffee grounds around the plants. During the dry summer months, water lingonberry plants at the rate of one gallon/week. This is best achieved through a soaker hose or drip irrigation system, so that the water slowly penetrates to a greater depth in the soil. Fertilize in the spring with an organic fertilizer for acid-loving plants. Prune out oldest shoots each winter to promote the growth of new stems on which flowers and fruit are borne.
