Small Cranberry

Scientific name

Vaccinium oxycoccos

Description

The Small Cranberry is a evergreen, perennial shrub that only grows about 10 cm in height. This plant may also be known by the common names Bog Cranberry or Swamp Cranberry. While considered a shrub, the Small Cranberry grows vine-like branches that trail and root along the ground. The leaves are small, simple, leathery, lance shaped, shiny dark green, alternately arranged, and have rolled edges. The flowers are small, showy, reddish pink colored, nodding, have four petals, have a cluster of long dark red stamens, appear on erect stems, and bloom between June and July. These flowers transform into dark red cranberries that reach maturity between August and September then last throughout the winter. The fruit is beneficial to wildlife species, like birds and small mammals. This species is an early colonizer, often being one of the first shrubs to grow following wild fires.

Planting conditions

Small Cranberry grows best in moist to wet conditions with full sun exposure. It prefers acidic, poorly drained, nutrient poor, humus/peat or sandy loam soil types. It is intolerant of shade. This shrub can be naturally found in bogs and fens.

Details

• Plant height:
  • Max 1.5m
  • Max 2m
  • Max 3m
  • Any
• Moisture level:
  • Moist
  • Wet
  • Flood Tolerant
• Light conditions:
  • Full sun
• Soil type:
  • Sandy
  • Loamy
  • Humus
• pH:
  • Acidic
• Depth:
  • Potted
  • Bareroot
• Eco Zone:
  • 1a
  • 1b
  • 2a
  • 2b
  • 3a
  • 3b
  • 4a
  • 4b
  • 5a
  • 5b
  • 6a
  • 6b
  • 7a
  • 7b
• Plant type:
  • Shrub
• Height:
  • 10 cm
• Spread:
  • 1 m