Viburnum opulus var. americanum (American Cranberrybush)
American Cranberry Bush, Highbush Cranberry, American Cranberrybush Viburnum, Cranberry Viburnum, Viburnum opulus ssp. trilobum, Viburnum trilobum
With four seasons of interest, Viburnum opulus var. americanum (American Cranberrybush) is a dense, rounded, deciduous shrub with upright spreading or arching branches. In spring, it produces showy, lacy, white flowers in flat cymes, 3 in. wide (7 cm), of tiny fertile florets surrounded by an outer ring of larger sterile florets. Rich in nectar, they are loved by butterflies, bees, and other pollinators. In late summer, the attractive blooms give way to drooping clusters of ornamental bright red berries that persist from fall through early winter. Showy when viewed up-close or from a short distance, they often persist into winter and are quite attractive to birds and wildlife. Tasty, the fruits can be eaten fresh from the shrub or used to make jams and preserves. In the fall, the elegant foliage of three-lobed, maple-like, dark green leaves, turns a brilliant red. A very rewarding shrub that is not only good-looking but also durable and easy to grow.
- Grows up to 8-12 ft. tall and wide (240-360 cm).
- A full sun or part shade lover, this plant is easily grown in average, moist, well-drained soils. Prefers loams with even moisture, but tolerates a wide range of soils and moisture conditions. Drought and clay soil tolerant.
- Perfect as a specimen plant or in shrub borders, striking hedges and screens, and foundation plantings.
- Attractive to birds and butterflies.
- Low maintenance, this plant has no serious insect or disease problems, but watch for occasional aphids, leaf spot, stem blight, and powdery mildew.
- Prune as required immediately after flowering.
- Native to North America.
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Buy Viburnum opulus var. americanum (American Cranberrybush)
Requirements
Hardiness | 2
– 7 |
---|---|
Heat Zones | 1
– 7 |
Climate Zones | 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, A1, A2, A3 |
Plant Type | Shrubs |
Plant Family | Viburnum |
Exposure | Full Sun, Partial Sun |
Season of Interest |
Spring (Mid,Late) Summer (Early,Mid,Late) Fall Winter |
Height | 8' – 12' (240cm – 3.6m) |
Spread | 8' – 12' (240cm – 3.6m) |
Spacing | 120" – 144" (300cm – 360cm) |
Water Needs | Average |
Maintenance | Low |
Soil Type | Clay, Loam |
Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained |
Characteristics | Showy, Fruit & Berries |
Native Plants | United States, Midwest, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Northeast, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Pacific Northwest, Idaho, Washington, Rocky Mountains, Montana, Wyoming, Southeast, Kentucky, West Virginia |
Tolerance | Drought |
Attracts | Bees, Birds, Butterflies |
Garden Uses | Beds and Borders, Hedges and Screens |
Garden Styles | Informal and Cottage |
By Cynthia Shirk, Josh Steichmann, Lara Red, Cynthia Shirk, Shutterstock
While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.
Requirements
Hardiness | 2
– 7 |
---|---|
Heat Zones | 1
– 7 |
Climate Zones | 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, A1, A2, A3 |
Plant Type | Shrubs |
Plant Family | Viburnum |
Exposure | Full Sun, Partial Sun |
Season of Interest |
Spring (Mid,Late) Summer (Early,Mid,Late) Fall Winter |
Height | 8' – 12' (240cm – 3.6m) |
Spread | 8' – 12' (240cm – 3.6m) |
Spacing | 120" – 144" (300cm – 360cm) |
Water Needs | Average |
Maintenance | Low |
Soil Type | Clay, Loam |
Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained |
Characteristics | Showy, Fruit & Berries |
Native Plants | United States, Midwest, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Northeast, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Pacific Northwest, Idaho, Washington, Rocky Mountains, Montana, Wyoming, Southeast, Kentucky, West Virginia |
Tolerance | Drought |
Attracts | Bees, Birds, Butterflies |
Garden Uses | Beds and Borders, Hedges and Screens |
Garden Styles | Informal and Cottage |