Practical
Plants

Vaccinium macrocarpon

American Cranberry

a perennial woody evergreen member of the Vaccinium genus in the family Ericaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Family
Ericaceae
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Woodiness
woody
Growth rate
moderate
Height
0.2 m
Spread
2 m
Fertility
Self fertile, Insects, Self
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects, Self

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Fruit - raw or cooked[6][2][4][11][1]. It can also be dried for winter use[12]. Rich in vitamin C[7], the fruit is too acid for most peoples tastes to be eaten raw, so it is mainly used in pies, preserves etc[5]. It is said that a teaspoon of salt added to the cooking fruit can take the place of half the sugar normally used[5]. The fruit is between 1 and 2cm in diameter[7].

Plant part
Fruit

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

An infusion of the branches has been used as a treatment for pleurisy[9].

Product or use
Miscellany

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Plants can be grown as a ground cover when planted about 1 metre apart each way[8]. Plants spread rapidly when they are thriving[8].

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Soil surface

Ground cover

Environment

Range
Eastern N. America. Occasionally naturalized in Britain[4].
Habitat
Acid boggy ground[2][10].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
high
Hardiness
Zone 2+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
Soil pH
very acid, acid
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - sow late winter in a greenhouse in a lime-free potting mix and only just cover the seed[13]. Stored seed might require a period of up to 3 months cold stratification[3]. Another report says that it is best to sow the seed in a greenhouse as soon as it is ripe[7]. Once they are about 5cm tall, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a lightly shaded position in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Cuttings in April of shoots 15cm long, in a sandy mix in a frame covered in plastic to keep them moist[7]. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 5 - 8cm with a heel, August in a frame[13]. Slow and difficult. Layering in late summer or early autumn[13]. Another report says that spring is the best time to layer[7]. Takes 18 months[13]. Division of suckers in spring or early autumn[3].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Requires a moist or semi-boggy lime free soil, preferring one that is rich in peat or a light loamy soil with added leaf-mould[2][7]. Prefers a very acid soil with a pH in the range of 4 to 4.5, plants soon become chlorotic when lime is present[7]. Plants grow best in a poor soil, richer soils result in extra foliage production at the expense of fruit[7]. Succeeds in full sun or light shade though it fruits better in a sunny position[7]. Requires shelter from strong winds[7]. A very dwarf shrub producing long slender creeping stems that root into the soil. Upright stems grow from the axillary buds in the second year and these upright stems flower and fruit the following year[7]. Widely cultivated for its edible fruit in N. America, there are many named varieties[2][5][7]. Cultivated plants are usually grown in artificial bogs that are often flooded in the winter[7]. Plants can self-fertilize but cross-fertilization by insects results in higher yields[7]. Cultivated plants take about 5 years to come into full bearing but will then crop well for 60 - 100 years[7]. Dislikes root disturbance, plants are best grown in pots until being planted out in their permanent positions[7]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[7].

References

  1. Turner. N. J. and Szczawinski. A. Edible Wild Fruits and Nuts of Canada. National Museum of Natural Sciences 1978-00-00

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  2. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  3. Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press 1987-00-00 ISBN 0942375009

    ↩1↩2

  4. Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  5. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2↩3

  6. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

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  7. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8↩9↩10↩11↩12↩13↩14↩15↩16↩17

  8. Thomas. G. S. Plants for Ground Cover J. M. Dent & Sons 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-460-12609-1

    ↩1↩2

  9. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

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  10. Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. 1950-00-00

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  11. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

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  12. Elias. T. and Dykeman. P. A Field Guide to N. American Edible Wild Plants. Van Nostrand Reinhold 1982-00-00 ISBN 0442222009

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  13. Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

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