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Vaccinium macrocarpon - Aiton.

American Cranberry

Author	Aiton.	Botanical references	11, 43, 200
Family	Ericaceae	Genus	Vaccinium
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	3 (1-5)	Medicinal Rating	1 (1-5)

Physical Characteristics

An evergreen Shrub growing to 0.2m by 2m at a medium rate.

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

Woodland Garden; Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade; Ground Cover; Bog Garden;

Cultivars: (as above except)
'Langlois'
'McFarlin'
'Pilgrim'

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: 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

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.

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

'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].

'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].

'Langlois'

A commercial cultivar, selected for its drooping flowers and very large red fruit[183]. The plant grows 25cm tall and 45cm wide[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].

'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].

'Smack'

Large well-flavoured fruit that makes excellent jellies, jams and pies[183].

'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].

Links

This plant is also mentioned in the following PFAF articles: The Edible Pond and Bog Garden.

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.

Readers Comments

Plants for a Future does not verify the accuracy of reader comments, use at your own risk. In particular Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. You should always consult a professional before using plants medicinally.

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