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Vaccinium macrocarpon

Vaccinium macrocarpon: Fruit
Photo by Ken Fern. High resolution version

Common name:	American Cranberry	Family:	Ericaceae
Author:	Aiton.	Botanical references:	11, 43, 200
Synonyms:	Oxycoccus macrocarpos ((Aiton.)Pursh.)
Known Hazards:	None known
Range:	Eastern N. America. Occasionally naturalized in Britain[17].
Habitat:	Acid boggy ground[11, 43].
Edibility Rating (1-5):	3	Medicinal Rating (1-5):	1

Other Possible Synonyms:	From various places across the web, may not be correct. See below.
	Oxycoccus hagerupii[B,P] Oxycoccus intermedius[B,P] Oxycoccus macrocarpus[B,P] Oxycoccus microcarpos[B,P] Oxycoccus ovalifolius[B,P] Oxycoccus oxycoccos[B,P] Oxycoccus palustris[B,G,P] Oxycoccus palustris ssp. microphyllus[B,P] Oxycoccus palustris var. intermedius[B,P] Oxycoccus palustris var. ovalifolius[B,P] Oxycoccus quadripetalus[B,G,P] Oxycoccus quadripetalus var. microphyllus[B,P] V. macrocarpum[H] V. microcarpos[B,P] V. oxycoccos[B,DUTCH,G,HPIC,L,Sn2,Sngs,P] V. oxycoccos var. intermedium[B,P] V. oxycoccos var. microphyllum[B,P] V. oxycoccos var. ovalifolium[B,P] V. palustre[G]
Other Common Names:	From various places around the Web, may not be correct. See below.
	American Cranberry [L], Bog Cranberry [L,FEIS], Cranberry [E,S,P,H,L], Grote Veenbes [D], Kleine Veenbes [D], Large Cranberry [B,L], Small Cranberry [L,B,P],
Systematics:	From a USDA Plants Database
	Order: Ericales. Heath family
Other Range Info:	From the Ethnobotany Database
	Us; Us(Amerindian)

Physical Characteristics

An evergreen shrub growing to 0.2m by 2m at a medium rate. It is hardy to zone 2. It is in leaf all year, in flower from June to August, and the seeds ripen from August to October. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Insects. The plant is self-fertile. We rate it 3/5 for edibility and 1/5 for medicinal use.

The plant prefers light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils, requires well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. The plant prefers acid soils and can grow in very acid soil. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It requires moist or wet soil.

Habitats and Possible Locations

Bog Garden, Woodland, Sunny Edge, Dappled Shade, Ground Cover.

Cultivar 'Langlois': Bog Garden, Woodland, Sunny Edge, Dappled Shade, Ground Cover.
Cultivar 'McFarlin': Bog Garden, Woodland, Sunny Edge, Dappled Shade, Ground Cover.
Cultivar 'Pilgrim': Bog Garden, Woodland, Sunny Edge, Dappled Shade, Ground Cover.

Edible Uses

Fruit.

Fruit - raw or cooked[2, 11, 17, 46, 101]. It can also be dried for winter use[62]. Rich in vitamin C[200], the fruit is too acid for most peoples tastes to be eaten raw, so it is mainly used in pies, preserves etc[183]. It is said that a teaspoon of salt added to the cooking fruit can take the place of half the sugar normally used[183]. The fruit is between 1 and 2cm in diameter[200].

Medicinal Uses

Disclaimer

Miscellany.

An infusion of the branches has been used as a treatment for pleurisy[257].

Other Uses

Ground cover.

Plants can be grown as a ground cover when planted about 1 metre apart each way[208]. Plants spread rapidly when they are thriving[208].

Cultivation details

Requires a moist or semi-boggy lime free soil, preferring one that is rich in peat or a light loamy soil with added leaf-mould[11, 200]. Prefers a very acid soil with a pH in the range of 4 to 4.5, plants soon become chlorotic when lime is present[200]. Plants grow best in a poor soil, richer soils result in extra foliage production at the expense of fruit[200]. Succeeds in full sun or light shade though it fruits better in a sunny position[200]. Requires shelter from strong winds[200].
A very dwarf shrub producing long slender creeping stems that root into the soil. Upright stems grow from the axillary buds in the second year and these upright stems flower and fruit the following year[200].
Widely cultivated for its edible fruit in N. America, there are many named varieties[11, 183, 200]. Cultivated plants are usually grown in artificial bogs that are often flooded in the winter[200]. Plants can self-fertilize but cross-fertilization by insects results in higher yields[200]. Cultivated plants take about 5 years to come into full bearing but will then crop well for 60 - 100 years[200].
Dislikes root disturbance, plants are best grown in pots until being planted out in their permanent positions[200].
Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[200].

Propagation

Seed - sow late winter in a greenhouse in a lime-free potting mix and only just cover the seed[78]. Stored seed might require a period of up to 3 months cold stratification[113]. Another report says that it is best to sow the seed in a greenhouse as soon as it is ripe[200]. Once they are about 5cm tall, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a lightly shaded position in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.
Cuttings in April of shoots 15cm long, in a sandy mix in a frame covered in plastic to keep them moist[200].
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 5 - 8cm with a heel, August in a frame[78]. Slow and difficult.
Layering in late summer or early autumn[78]. Another report says that spring is the best time to layer[200]. Takes 18 months[78].
Division of suckers in spring or early autumn[113].

Cultivars

'Wilcox': A medium-size fruit with a deep red skin[183]. It ripens very early and stores fairly well[183]. A vigorous, very productive plant that is somewhat resistant to false blossom virus[183].
'Smack': Large well-flavoured fruit that makes excellent jellies, jams and pies[183].
'Pilgrim': Large purplish-red fruit, ripening late and storing well[183]. A prolific bearer, it is resistant to feeding by the leafhopper, an insect that spreads false blossom virus[183].
'McFarlin': Large dark red berries with a tender flesh and extra fine flavour[183]. Ripening mid season, it is variable in keeping and shipping quality[183].
'Langlois': A commercial cultivar, selected for its drooping flowers and very large red fruit[183]. The plant grows 25cm tall and 45cm wide[183].
'Hamilton': An outstanding miniature form, making a clump 10 x 12cm[183]. It slowly forms a cushion that, in spring, is covered in pink flowers. The fruit is red[183].
'Early Black': A small fruit that ripens early, it has a firm flesh and is good for keeping, shipping etc[183]. It turns almost black when fully ripe, but colours well in storage if picked green[183]. The plant has a more upright habit than the species[183].

Suppliers

For more details of plant suppliers please see our Suppliers Page which lists many more places to look.

PFAF Web Pages

This plant is mentioned in the following web pages

Web References

[E] Ethnobotany Data (common names, uses, countries) from the Ethnobotany Database.
[B] Data (Latin & Common names, other references) from the BONAP's Synonymized Checklist of the Vascular Flora of the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.
[PHARM] Phytochemical Data (common names, uses, countries) from Dr Duke's Phytochemical Database.
[G] Data (Common Names, Uses, Distribution) from the USDA/ARS NPGS's GRIN taxonomic database.
[C] Taxon data. from the CalFlora database.
[P] Data. (uses, distribution, wetland) from the USDA'a Plants database.
[HP] Links, Photos, Suppliers from Hortiplex Plant Database

References for Vaccinium macrocarpum (a possible synonym).

[H] Details of Scandanavian and European Common names in Henriette's names database

References for Vaccinium oxycoccos (a possible synonym).

[B] Data (Latin & Common names, other references) from the BONAP's Synonymized Checklist of the Vascular Flora of the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.
[S] Illustration from the Southwest School of Botanical Medicine
[G] Data (Common Names, Uses, Distribution) from the USDA/ARS NPGS's GRIN taxonomic database.
[P] Data. (uses, distribution, wetland) from the USDA'a Plants database.
[S] Image from the Southwest School of Botanical Medicine
[FEIS] Data (Uses, Ecology, Fire Effects) from the USDA Forestry Service Fire Effects Information System.

References for vaccinium oxycoccos (a possible synonym).

[HP] PhotoFrom Henriette's plant pictures
[HP] PhotoFrom Henriette's plant pictures
[HP] PhotoFrom Henriette's plant pictures
[HP] PhotoFrom Henriette's plant pictures

References for the family Ericaceae.

[CHINA] Draft Data for parts of family Very detailed botanical/identification info. from the Flora of China.

See the PFAF Links Pages for other sources.

Also try Photos and info from the The Plants Database which has 14,000 images.

References

[2] Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972 ISBN 0-486-20459-6
Lots of entries, quite a lot of information in most entries and references.

[11] Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981
A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.

[17] Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962
A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.

[43] Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. 1950
A bit dated but good and concise flora of the eastern part of N. America.

[46] Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959
An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.

[62] Elias. T. and Dykeman. P. A Field Guide to N. American Edible Wild Plants. Van Nostrand Reinhold 1982 ISBN 0442222009
Very readable.

[78] Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948
A bit dated but a good book on propagation techniques with specific details for a wide range of plants.

[101] Turner. N. J. and Szczawinski. A. Edible Wild Fruits and Nuts of Canada. National Museum of Natural Sciences 1978
A very readable guide to some wild foods of Canada.

[113] Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press 1987 ISBN 0942375009
A very detailed book on propagating trees. Not for the casual reader.

[183] Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Excellent. Contains a very wide range of conventional and unconventional food plants (including tropical) and where they can be obtained (mainly N. American nurseries but also research institutes and a lot of other nurseries from around the world.

[200] Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

[208] Thomas. G. S. Plants for Ground Cover J. M. Dent & Sons 1990 ISBN 0-460-12609-1
An excellent detailled book on the subject, very comprehensive.

[257] Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998 ISBN 0-88192-453-9
Very comprehensive but terse guide to the native uses of plants. Excellent bibliography, fully referenced to each plant, giving a pathway to further information. Not for the casual reader.

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Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future - Species Database. Copyright (c) 1997-2003.
WEB search engine by Rich Morris - Home Page- Contact Info
Blagdon Cross, Ashwater, Beaworthy, Devon, EX21 5DF, UK.
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