Vaccinium macrocarpon
Common name: 
Cranberry
American Cranberry
Pronunciation: 
vak-SIN-ee-um mak-ro-KAR-pon
Family: 
Ericaceae
Genus: 
Type: 
Broadleaf
Native to (or naturalized in) Oregon: 
No
  • Broadleaf evergreen shrub or ground cover, low growing, forms large, flat mats by creeping stems, to 15 cm or more.  Leaves small, 1-2 cm, elliptic-oblong, margin entire and sometimes slightly rolled, dark green above, whitish below, very short petiole.  Flowers pinkish, solitary or 2-4 on a slender stalks, about 6 mm, stamens exposed.  Fruit globose, 1-2 cm, red, acidic.
  • Sun to part shade.  Prefers moist, well-drained, high organic matter, acidic soils.
  • Hardy to USDA Zone 2      Native from Newfoundland to Saskatchewan, south to Minnesota, Michigan and North Carolina.  The cranberry of commerce.
  • macrocarpon: with large fruit
  • Silverton, Oregon: The Oregon Garden, Conifer Garden
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  • plant habit, fruiting

    plant habit, fruiting

  • leaves and developing fruit

    leaves and developing fruit

  • ripe fruit

    ripe fruit