Andean blueberry (mortiño)
Vaccinium floribundum
A wild blueberry of the páramo, gathered for colada morada; needs acid soil.
Hardiness: zones 8 to 10
Light: full sun
Size: about 5 ft tall, 4 ft wide
Harvest: August to November
From: Northern Andes
Here: Too tender to overwinter outdoors on the Lake Erie shore (zone 6b to 7a): grow it in a pot and bring it in, or treat it as an annual.
Good for: food, wildlife.
Native to: Andean highlands. Hardy in zones 8 to 10.
The story
Mortiño, the Andean blueberry, grows on the páramo above 9,000 feet from Colombia to Ecuador, where it has been gathered since before the Inca and is cooked into colada morada, the purple drink of the Day of the Dead.
Planting
Full sun in a cool, humid, frost-light climate, acid drained soil; a 6-foot shrub. Plant a seedling or cutting.
Growing
Keep moist with rainwater, mulch, and leave it. It dislikes heat and lime.
Harvest and use
Berries ripen purple-black in autumn; tart, excellent in drinks, jam and desserts.
What to watch for
Heat and alkaline soil.
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More berries and small fruit
General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home