Highbush Cranberry (Bundle of 25)

$48.00

Description

Size: 18-24 / Age: 1-0 / Growth Rate: 1-3 feet per year. The Highbush Cranberry (Viburnum trilobum) is a deciduous shrub native to North America, often found in wetlands, along streams, and in forested areas. It typically grows 8-12 feet tall, with a dense, rounded to spreading habit. The leaves are dark green in the summer and turn vibrant red, purple, or orange in the fall, providing significant seasonal color. In late spring to early summer, highbush cranberry produces clusters of small, white to cream-colored flowers, which are attractive to pollinators like bees and butterflies. By late summer or early fall, the flowers give way to bright red berries that resemble cranberries, which are tart and bitter when raw but become more palatable after frost. These berries are a valuable food source for birds, small mammals, and even humans, often used in jellies, sauces, or as flavoring. The bark of the highbush cranberry is grayish-brown and smooth, with slightly peeling patches. This shrub is adaptable to various soil types, though it prefers moist, well-drained soils, and it thrives in full sun to partial shade. Highbush cranberry is often used in landscaping as a hedge, screen, or ornamental shrub, valued for its beauty, wildlife benefits, and ability to tolerate a range of growing conditions. It is also commonly planted for erosion control, as it is effective in stabilizing soils along streambanks or wetland edges.