Highbush cranberry is a good pick for the edges of either a timber or a sunny garden . It seems to find its sweet spot where an subject expanse meets tall tree diagram .
Known by many usual public figure , including American cranberry bush , crampbark tree , dog Sorbus aucuparia tree , rebel elder , angry gueldes - rose , spat tree , love rose and many others , this audacious shrub is taxonomically known as bothV. trilobumandV. opulusL. var.americanum . The latter thread from the fact that the native plant is extremely similar to the EurasianV. opulus . foreign-born cranberry bush and cultivars often hybridize with the North American native . Both are eatable and grow in interchangeable conditions , but the native shrub ’s berries are described as more palatable to man . Both mintage have tart fruits that can be used in jam and gelatin .
This bush support wildlife class - round . The blush of spring , which are bunch of petite floweret surrounded by large florets , draw in butterfly stroke , bees and other pollinators . During the growing season , highbush cranberry is a larval host flora for thespring azure butterfly . In the fall and winter , animals , include birds , collation on the shrub ’s shining ruby-red berry , which resemble its namesake cranberries , although the two plants are not close colligate . Cedar waxwing , in particular , are reportedly big fans of these berries . Fortunately , coney and cervid seem to mostly leave the industrial plant alone .
In addition to its year - round wildlife note value , thisViburnumalso offers year - round garden interest — from the white to pinkish lacy bud and heyday of spring , through the golden - Olea europaea green to purplish - to - cherry-red - tinged foliage of autumn , to the bright red Charles Edward Berry of winter . Although the bush blossom copiously in spring , they ’ll produce even more berries if multiple plants are available in the garden ; each flower is “ perfect”—with both male and distaff parts — but self - infertile , so it requires cross - pollination with another flower .
Planting highbush cranberry along the edges of the garden provides wildlife value , showing , and pleasant transitions between garden rooms . Shrubs grow comparatively fast — up to 3 feet per class . Annual pruning will maintain the desired height and width .
Viburnum trilobumtolerates a wide scope of soil , but favor the consistent moisture of its aboriginal habitat : moist woods and lake margin . While it grows in full sun to shade , it thrives in partial shade . When embed in full sun , highbush cranberry may need regular tearing until established to fill its moisture needs .
Highbush cranberry can be circularize both from seeded player and cuttings . The bush often reseed in the garden , although small seedlings are easily pulled or transplanted . shrub can be started from baby’s room stock or other gardeners ’ press clipping . It ’s not a fussy young works , except for its H2O needs .
If you ’d care to add a native , moderately sized bush with yr - round garden interest , consider the highbush cranberry . The neighborhood birds will thank you in wintertime when other berries and nutrient generator are go .
This article byBeth Stetenfieldfirst appeared in the November / December 2020 version of theNorthern Gardener . She is a garden blogger and author , and a master naturalist volunteer and instructor .
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