Tag: Ericaceae family

The blueberry is a member of the diverse and widespread heath family, Ericaceae, which comprises some 4,000 species. While many enjoy this sweet fruit, fewer people realize that it has several edible relatives, including some of the world's most popular berries. Understanding what berries are in the blueberry family reveals a fascinating world of related plants thriving in similar acidic soil conditions.

While often mistaken for one another, lingonberries and cranberries share a surprising and close botanical connection, belonging to the same plant genus, *Vaccinium*. This makes them members of the same extended plant family, the *Ericaceae*, alongside other familiar berries like blueberries and bilberries.

Contrary to some common dietary confusion, blueberries are definitively not considered nightshades. They belong to the completely separate and unrelated Ericaceae family and do not possess the same specific alkaloids found in true nightshades, such as tomatoes and potatoes.