A low shrub with small, dark, shiny green leaves. It has bell-shaped flowers which are usually white. These flowers then turn to large berries which remain on the plant for a long time. There is some variation as this plant derives from cultivated stock and different varieties occur.  The berries can be white, lilac, pink, crimson, brilliant pink, dark red or white with pink spots, depending on the variety.

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Heathland and heathy areas.

Flowers in May and June.

Evergreen shrub.

Widespread but rather local in Britain, with a concentration of records from western Scotland.

Rarely recorded in the wild in Leicestershire and Rutland.