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Here is one of the questions asked by tourists each season that arouses passions at La Maison du Bleuet: blueberries and blueberries, are they different?

Some will argue that it is the same fruit, but two different names. Others are convinced, on the contrary, that they are two distinct fruits. Who is right…Here is the answer: blueberries and bilberries are of the same family, the same genus, but of two different species.

What does that mean?

First, to fully understand this difference, it is necessary to know that there is a system of classification of plants in botany [1] . This system classifies plants into different categories, then ranks them according to specific criteria. Thus, a plant "family" is divided into several "genera" which are themselves subdivided into different species.

If we take the example of a poodle, it is part of the large family of “mammals”. This family includes several "genres" such as felines and canines. Finally, the genus of canines includes other species, including that of the poodle and German shepherds, for example. The cat is part of the same family as the dog, but not of the same gender.

In the case of bilberries and blueberries, they are both part of the same family, 'Ericaceae' or flowering plants , and they are also of the same genus, ' Vaccinium' (shrubs with small fruits ).

On the other hand, even though they are of the same genus, blueberries and blueberries are two different species. Wild blueberries are of the species Vacciniums angustifolium (narrow-leaved blueberries or wild blueberries) whereas the wild blueberry is of the species Vacciniums myrtillus .

In conclusion, yes blueberries and blueberries are different since they are two distinct species. However, they are part of the same genus and the same family, which explains certain similarities.

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References

[1] https://www.plantes-botanique.org/espece_vaccinium_vitis-idaea