Mortiï¿½o (Vaccinium mortinia)

At a glance

Lifecycle: Perennial (hardy)
Exposure: Full sun
Frost limit: −6.7 °C

Cultivation

Requires a moist but freely-draining lime free soil, preferring one that is rich in peat or a light loamy soil with added leaf-mould. This species is not very frost tolerant, it succeeds outdoors only in the milder areas of Britain. Another report says that frosts can occur on almost any night at the higher elevations of its range, where it still grows and crops well. The days there, however, are generally warm or hot and so it is the longer lasting cold of winters in the temperate zone that can cause damage to the plant. The species is of special interest for its potential in breeding programmes where it could endow frost resistence to the flowers. Plants vary in height from almost prostrate shrubs to about 3 metres tall. Dislikes root disturbance, plants are best grown in pots until being planted out in their permanent positions. Although not usually cultivated, the fruit is widely sold in the local markets of Ecuador and Colombia. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus.

Propagation

Seed - sow late winter in a greenhouse in a lime-free potting mix and only just cover the seed. Once they are about 5cm tall, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a lightly shaded position in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 5 - 8cm with a heel, August in a frame. Slow and difficult. Layering in late summer or early autumn. Division of suckers in spring or early autumn.

Edible uses

Fruit - raw or cooked.

Habitat

Found at elevations from 2800 to 4000 metres in the Andes.

Native range

S. America - Ecuador and Colombia.