Highbush Cranberry {Viburnum Trilobum} High Yield | Edible | Cold Hardy | Fast Grow | Privacy hedge | 40+ seeds Free US Shipping!

Highbush Cranberry {Viburnum Trilobum} High Yield | Edible | Cold Hardy | Privacy hedge | 40 seeds Free US Shipping!

Soil Type Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Moisture Medium, Moist
Sun Exposure Full Sun, Partial
Height 8' - 12'
Bloom Color White
Bloom Time May, June
Spacing 10'
Hardiness Zones 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
Root Type Fibrous
Benefits Birds, Pollinators, Host Plant
kinds of animals,
from mice to squirrels and foxes, are fond of
highbush cranberry fruit.

Germination:

Soak seeds for 24 hours and drain.

Stratification: Seed requires 90 days warm stratification
followed by 90 days cold moist stratification at 3° C (37° F) to 5° C (41° F).

Soak seeds in water for 24 hours.
Place seeds in sandwich bag(s), with a bit of damp sand or vermiculite
to keep moist.
Keep at room temperature for about 90 days. Occasionally lightly spray
water to keep seeds and sand moist.
Place the bag(s) with seeds in refrigerator for about 90 days.
After the required time take the seeds out of the refrigerator and sow
the seeds in pots 1/4 inch deep and cover lightly.
Water gently so as not to wash away the seeds. Keep soil moist but not
wet. Seeds can take up to two years or more to germinate, so be patient
and do not throw away any seed that hasn’t sprouted yet.

Viburnum trilobum fruit is known as ‘drupe’ and contains vitamin C, which
gives it an acidic, tarty taste. Viburnum trilobum fruit is eaten raw or
used to make jams, jellies, condiments, and sauces that are used in various
dishes. It is much like cranberries. The fruit is a drupe, with a fleshy
circumference and a single seed with a stony pit outside. Apricots,
cherries, and peaches are some famous examples of drupe fruit.
Fruits replace pollinated flowers by June and continue to ripen through the summer.

Highbush Cranberry blooms in spring with white clusters of tiny florets,
surrounded by larger florets. Dark green leaves turn purplish-red in autumn,
alongside drooping clusters of bright red berries. The berries soften and
sweeten over winter, and are eaten by Cedar Waxwing and other birds. The
very-tart berries are excellent in jams jellies.

Indigenous to moist woods and lake margins, Viburnum trilobum prefers
consistent moisture, but tolerates a wide range of soils and is easily
grown in average, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade.

This large, hardy shrub has a moderate growth rate of up to three feet
per year, reaching 8 to 12 feet tall and up to 10 feet wide. To keep it
from getting larger than desired an annual pruning each year just after
flowering will maintain the present size. The arching stems along with a
dense rounded form make it a popular landscape choice as a screening hedge.
For a solid screen, plants should be spaced about four feet apart.

Native Viburnums offer excellent support for wildlife and pollinators,
serving as host plants to numerous butterflies and moths. They flower
profusely whether or not pollination occurs. However, poor fruiting will
happen if there is only one Viburnum available.


Planting and Cultivation Notes
The "perfect" flowers - having both male and female parts - are
self-infertile and cross pollination is needed for reliable fruit production.
Two or three shrubs are recommended for ample fruiting.