American Cranberrybush

Sun Exposure: Sun to part shade

Origin: Northern North America

Growth Habits: Deciduous, upright shrub, 10 to 15 feet tall and wide (3-4.5 m); gray bark, scaly with age; deep green leaves with 3 shallower lobes than V. opulus var. opulus, 2 to 4 inches long and wide (5-10 cm), lighter underside

Watering Needs: Regular water, prefers fertile soil, accommodating about the pH

Propagation: Cuttings, seeds

Viburnum opulus var. americanum, Herman, D.E. et al. 1996. North Dakota tree handbook. USDA NRCS ND State Soil Conservation Committee; NDSU Extension and Western Area Power Admin., Bismarck, ND.

Viburnum opulus var. americanum, Herman, D.E. et al. 1996. North Dakota tree handbook. USDA NRCS ND State Soil Conservation Committee; NDSU Extension and Western Area Power Admin., Bismarck, ND.

Blooming Habits:
White flowers in showy flat topped clusters, 2 to 4 inches in diameter (5-10 cm) in early summer. The larger flowers, 0.4 to 0.8 inches in diameter (1-2 cm), on the outside of the cluster are sterile. The smaller ones, 0.12 to 0.16 inch wide (3-4 mm) are the ones that will produce the seeds.

Fruiting Habits:
Showy orange to red drupes (with 1 seed), 0.3 to 0.4 inch in diameter (7-10 mm), in terminal clusters. They are acidic, edible and juicy, their flavor reminding of the cranberry. They ripen in the fall.