| Lifespan: | ⌛ | perennial |
|---|---|---|
| Origin: | ✈ | NE US, adjacent Canada |
| Exposure: | ☼ | full sun"full sun" is not in the list (sun, part-sun, shade, unknown) of allowed values for the "Exposure" property. |
|---|---|---|
| Water: | ◍ | frequent"frequent" is not in the list (wet, moist, moderate, dry, less when dormant) of allowed values for the "Water" property., regular"regular" is not in the list (wet, moist, moderate, dry, less when dormant) of allowed values for the "Water" property., damp"damp" is not in the list (wet, moist, moderate, dry, less when dormant) of allowed values for the "Water" property. |
| Features: | ✓ | fruit |
| Sunset Zones: | 4-6, 32, 34, 36-45 |
Cranberries are evergreen trailing vines or dwarf shrubs. They are a group of plants in the genus Vaccinium subgenus Oxycoccus, although by some they are treated as a distinct Oxycoccus genus. Cranberries originate in acidic bogs throughout cooler parts of the N Hemisphere.
The plants are low, creeping shrubs or vines, reaching up to 2 m long and 5-20 cm in height [1]. Stems are slender and wiry, but not thickly woody. Leaves are small and evergreen. Flowers are a dark pink. Flower petals have very distinct reflex which fully exposes the style and stamens fully exposed and point forward. Honey bees pollinate the flowers. The fruit is classified as a berry. Berries are larger than the plant leaves. Berries start out white, turning a very deep red when completely ripe. Edible berries have an acidity which can overpower the sweetness.
- More information about this species can be found on the genus page.
Cultivation
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Cranberries need regular water during growing season. Flooding is done by commercial growers only during harvest, or winter (to protect from cold). Thin layers of sand spread over cranberry beds every 3-5 years helps to reduce pests and to rejuvenate the vines.
Propagation
Plants are propagated by moving established plant to a sand bed, and stems (vines) Are pushed into the sand every so often with something to keep them underground at that spot for roots to be established. Plants need frequent watering during this phase of rooting, until the roots form and new shoots sprout. Light applications of nitrogen fertilizer through the first growing season are common.
Pests and diseases
Susceptible to false blossom. Plants can be flooded to help control pests.
Species
Three to four species of cranberry exist, and are classified in two sections:
- Subgenus Oxycoccus, sect. Oxycoccus
- Vaccinium oxycoccus or Oxycoccus palustris (Common Cranberry or Northern Cranberry) is spread widely throughout the cool parts of the temperate Northern Hemisphere (all 3 continents). Small leaves are 5-10 mm. Flowers dark pink, on a central purple spike, come on stems which are finely hairy. The small pale pink fruit (berry), has a refreshing acidic taste.
- Vaccinium microcarpum or Oxycoccus microcarpus (Small Cranberry) is from N Europe and N Asia, and has more triangular leaves than V. oxycoccus, plus hairless flower stems. Some botanists include it within V. oxycoccus.
- Vaccinium macrocarpon or Oxycoccus macrocarpus (American Cranberry, Bearberry) native to northeastern N America (E Canada, and E United States, south to North Carolina at high altitudes). Differs from V. oxycoccus by its larger, 10-20 mm long leaves, and remotely apple-like flavor.
- Subgenus Oxycoccus, sect. Oxycoccoides
- Vaccinium erythrocarpum or Oxycoccus erythrocarpus (Southern Mountain Cranberry) originates at high altitudes in the southern Appalachian Mountains in SE North America, and E Asia.
Some plants of the completely unrelated genus Viburnum are sometimes inaccurately called "highbush cranberries".
Gallery
If you have a photo of this plant, please upload it! Plus, there may be other photos available for you to add.
Cranberry harvest in New Jersey
Approximate ranges of the cranberries in sect. Oxycoccus: Red: Common Cranberry. Orange: Small Cranberry. Green: American Cranberry.
References
External links
- w:Cranberry. Some of the material on this page may be from Wikipedia, under the Creative Commons license.
- Cranberry QR Code (Size 50, 100, 200, 500)