Vaccinium macrocarpon (American Cranberry, Bearberry, Cranberry, Large Cranberry) - 6 Photos - Vaccinium/macrocarpon/Ericaceae - Plant Profile

Attributes

Was and continues to be a food source for Native Americans.

NE North America

USA: CA, CT, DE, IL, IN, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, RI, TN, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV Canada: NB, NL, NS, ON, PE, QC

Wildlife Value:

Berries are eaten by birds and small mammals and it also attracts pollinators. Members of the genus Vaccinium support the following specialized bees: Andrena (Conandrena) bradleyi, Andrena (Andrena) carolina, Panurginus atramontensis, Habropoda laboriosa, Colletes productus, Colletes validus, and Osmia (Melanosmia) virga.

Edibility:

Edible berries

Life Cycle:

Perennial

Recommended Propagation Strategy:

Seed

Stem Cutting

Play Value:

Edible fruit

Wildlife Food Source

Attracts Pollinators

Fruit

Fruit Description:

1/2 inch round red fruit in late summer to mid-fall (August-November).

Fruit Type:

Berry

Fruit Color:

Red/Burgundy

Fruit Value To Gardener:

Edible

Display/Harvest Time:

Summer

Fall

Fruit Length:

< 1 inch

Fruit Width:

< 1 inch

Flowers

Flower Description:

Showy small fuchsia pink flower stalks develop from stem tips Each bloom has four thin white petals that are acutely reflexed, exposing a dark, elongated central cone of 8-10 fused stamens. They bloom from May to July.

Flower Color:

Pink

White

Flower Inflorescence:

Head

Flower Value To Gardener:

Showy

Flower Bloom Time:

Spring

Summer

Flower Petals:

4-5 petals/rays