Alphabetical Plant Listing

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.

Not sure which Viburnum to pick?
Compare All Viburnum

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

Buy Plants

Guides with Viburnum


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

Guides with Viburnum

Plant Calculator

How many Viburnum opulus var. americanum (American Cranberrybush) do I need for my garden?

%
ft
ft

Your Shopping List

Plant Quantity
Viburnum opulus var. americanum (American Cranberrybush)

Find your Hardiness Zone

Find your Climate Zone

Find your Heat Zone

Join Gardenia.net

Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.

Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.

Join now and start creating your dream garden!

Create a New Collection

Optional. For your reference.


Move Selected Plants to a Different Collection


Delete Collection

This field is required.

Rename Collection

This field is required.