Viburnum trilobum American Cranberrybush

General

A viburnum that grows in moist woods and bogs. An important food source for birds. It is not a cranberry, but gets its common name because the fruit closely resembles an actual cranberry in appearance and taste, and ripens around the same time of year. The fruits are acidic and can be used in place of regular cranberries after removing the seeds.

Plant Description

Medium-large shrub. Leaves resemble those of a maple tree. Flowers bloom in late spring; white umbel flowers, with tiny round heads in the center and a ring of white, rounded blossoms around the outside. Bright red round berries grow in clusters in the fall and may remain until winter. Usually, will have some red fall color.

Height (ft)
6

Spread (ft)
5

Soil moisture
Moist

Soil types
Medium to Fine

Wetland indicator
FACW

Shade tolerance
Tolerant, Full sun to part shade

Bloom color
White

Bloom period
Spring

Fall conspicuous
Mildly

Anaerobic tolerance
Low

Drought tolerance
None

Salinity tolerance
None

Self-Pollinating?
Yes

Range

Northern half of the USA, Southern half of Canada. Southernmost point in Kentucky, East Maine, west to Washington. Also new Mexico.

Kartesz, J.T. 2024. Floristic Synthesis of North America, Version 1.0. Biota of North America Program (BONAP) [website http://bonap.org/]

Additional Information

According to BRIT - Native American Ethnobotany Database, the berries have been used as a food and said to be good for your blood and liver. An infusion of the berries and/or bark has been used to treat swollen glands and mumps. The berries have been made into preserves. The infusion of the inner bark used as a psychic.