Bog Cranberry (Lingonberry) vs Sebastien Gooseberry - TreeTime.ca

Bog Cranberry (Lingonberry) vs Sebastien Gooseberry

Ribes uva-crispa Sebastien

Vaccinium vitis-idaea

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Sebastien Gooseberry
Bog Cranberry (Lingonberry)

Sebastien Gooseberry is a nearly thornless variety that produces medium-sized, red gooseberries. When the berries are fully ripe they are quite sweet and great for fresh eating. They can be stored for up to two weeks in the fridge. For baking and preserves, they are often picked when under-ripe when they are firm and tart. The general harvest period is anywhere from July to September.

Sebastien Gooseberry is a Canadian variety that was developed at the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada research station in Ottawa.

Gooseberries are self-pollinating but planting with another variety will increase yields.

Bog Cranberry is a native, ground cover species. These plants generally produce one crop per year in summer. Plants may spread 3 feet in width forming a dense mat which makes it attractive as an ornamental ground cover.

Wild crops of Bog Cranberry are harvested each year in Newfoundland (more than 200,000 lbs/yr). Harvest of wild fruit can no longer keep up with demand. In Europe, 80 million pounds per year of this crop is grown or harvested from the wild.

Bog Cranberry flowers are similar in shape to those of blueberry and may be white or pink in color. These berries are considered to be highly flavored but not as tart as cranberries.

Check out our YouTube video of this plant in the fall: Fall Bog Cranberry.

Sebastien Gooseberry Quick Facts

Bog Cranberry (Lingonberry) Quick Facts

Zone: 3a
Zone: 2a
Height: 1.5 m (5 ft)
Height: 0.2 m (0.7 ft)
Spread: 1.5 m (5 ft)
Spread: 0.9 m (3 ft)
Moisture: normal
Moisture: normal, wet
Light: partial shade, full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no
Berries: reddish and medium sized
Berries: tart, cranberry-like
Harvest: late July to September
Flowers: white or pink
Growth rate: fast
Growth rate: slow
Life span: short
Life span: medium
Suckering: low
Suckering: low



Toxicity: leaves are toxic to humans

Other Names: cowberry, dry ground cranberry, fox berry, foxberry, lingonberry, northern mountain cranberry, partridgeberry, rock cranberry, wolf berry, wolf-berry