Highbush Cranberry Viburnum

bare-root plants

Viburnum opulus var. americanum
8–12' × same. Formerly known as V. trilobum. Also known as Crampbark. Medicinal multi-stemmed native shrub.

Clusters of lovely 4" flat white flowers in May attract beneficial insects. Pendulous bunches of red berries ripen mid-October, popular with dozens of bird species. Fruit is extremely rich in antioxidants and vitamins A and C. Berries can be used for juice, jam, fruit leather and syrups—when boiling them down, don’t let the somewhat unpleasant odor deter you. Bark is one of the most effective anti-spasmodic medicinals. Good for screens and hedges. Not to be confused with low-growing bog cranberry familiar in sauces.

Native to northeast U.S. and Canada. Self-pollinating. Seed sourced from pure stands of americanum. Z2. (1-3' bare-root plants)

ships in spring

7584 Highbush Cranberry

Shipping

Items from our perennial plants warehouse ordered on or before March 7 will ship around March 31 through late April, starting with warmer areas and finishing in colder areas. Orders placed after March 7 will ship around late April through early-to-mid May, in the order in which they were received.

Additional Information

Viburnums

The Viburnum genus encompasses more than 150 different species, which can range from dense shrubs lush with green foliage to more open and rangy small trees. Viburnums are prized for their multi-season interest, with blossom, berry and foliage varying by species. Flowers attract many butterflies and other early-season pollinators in spring. Ripening berries, some edible for humans, put on a show of color throughout the summer.

All the Viburnums we offer are important wildlife plants, native to eastern North America.

Growing Viburnums

Soil: Adaptable, but in moist rich well-drained soil they will take on a fuller shape.
Sun: Full sun to part shade.
Pollination: Plant multiples of the same species for best fruit set.
Pest Control: Viburnum leaf beetle (Pyrrhalta viburni) has become a problem in some areas. The larvae overwinter on twigs and can defoliate shrubs in spring and early summer. They seem to prefer Arrowwood, but we have seen them do a number on Wild Raisin and Nannyberry. Prune out and burn any egg-infested twigs in early spring before your shrubs are leafed out. Spraying with Spinosad in late April or early May when the larvae first emerge can also help. Timing is key—spraying eggs or adult beetles is less effective.

Small Trees and Shrubs

As Green’s Nursery catalog from 1904 explains, “There are many trees that by pruning can be made to resemble shrubs, and many shrubs that by different pruning may be made to produce medium-sized trees.”