Vaccinium macrocarpon /wakˈkiːniũː/
Common name: American cranberry · Large cranberry · Bearberry
Vaccinium macrocarpon is a low, trailing evergreen vine in the heath family (Ericaceae), native to bogs and wetlands of northeastern North America. It bears small pink, reflexed-petal flowers in spring and large, tart red berries in autumn. It is the cultivated cranberry of commerce, grown in managed bogs primarily in Wisconsin, Massachusetts, and other cool northern regions.
Care summary
Sun
Full sun
Water
Constantly moist to wet; bog or saturated soil
Soil
Acidic (pH 4.0–5.5), sandy peat, water-retentive
Hardiness
Zones 2–6
Mature height
About 15–20 cm (0.5–0.7 ft), trailing
Pet safe
Yes; berries are edible for dogs and cats
Difficulty
Fussy
Propagation
Vine cuttings root readily and are the standard method. Press or peg 10-15 cm vine sections into moist acidic sand or peat in spring, keep them constantly wet, and they root at the nodes within a few weeks.
Fun facts
- Cranberries contain small air pockets, which let them float — farmers flood bogs at harvest so the berries can be scooped off the water's surface.
- The name "cranberry" comes from "crane berry," because early colonists thought the flower resembled the head and bill of a crane.
- Cranberries were used by Indigenous peoples long before European settlement, both as food and as a source of dye and medicine.
- Because of their high acid content, fresh cranberries keep unusually long and were historically stored aboard ships to help prevent scurvy.