Highbush Cranberry
Deciduous shrub growing 2-4 m tall. Features maple-like, three-lobed leaves and flat-topped clusters of white flowers in late spring, followed by bright red berries persisting into winter. Prefers moist, well-drained soils and full sun to partial shade. Provides food for birds and wildlife. Fall foliage is often red to purple. Suitable for naturalized areas, shrub borders, and wildlife gardens. Native to northern and eastern North America.
Plant Details
Bloom Colour: White
Bloom Time: Late-Spring
Sun Requirements: Sun to Part-Shade
Moisture: Moist-Drained
Phenology: Leaves emerge May. White flower clusters appear June. Red fruits mature August, persisting through winter. Red fall color develops October.
Wildlife Value: High value wildlife shrub; berries persist into winter; excellent cover for birds; flowers attract pollinators
Habit Over Time: Forms a large, multi-stemmed shrub that slowly spreads through root suckers. New stems emerge both close to and at some distance from the parent plant, creating a naturalistic colony over time. While it can spread extensively, the process is gradual and predictable. The open structure allows filtered light to reach the ground.
Height: Tall (8-12 feet)