How to Grow a European Cranberry Bush

By eHow Home & Garden Editor

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The European cranberry bush (Viburnum opulus) is an excellent choice for the home garden. Growing to an average height of 8 to 12 feet and spreading 10 to 15 feet wide, this bushy shrub is ideal as a specimen plant or planted as a screen. Showy white flowers resembling lace appear in May and give way to bright red berries in late summer. Plant the European cranberry for year-round enjoyment. Read on to learn how to grow a European cranberry bush.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

European cranberry bush
Shovel
Knife or garden shears
Water
Mulch or other organic material

Step1

Choose a planting location. This cranberry bush is particularly adaptable, but does best in full sun and moist, well-drained soil. Although it will also thrive in partial shade, it may not flower as abundantly as it does in sun.

Step2

Dig your planting hole. A good rule of thumb is to a hole four times the width of the root ball and equal the depth. The top of the root ball should be even with the surrounding ground after planting.

Step3

Prepare the root ball for planting. Most balled shrubs come with burlap around the ball and sometimes a wire basket. Twine is often used around the branches to prevent breakage. Remove the wire and twine completely. Cut away the burlap so it covers no more than half of the root ball.

Step4

Position the shrub in the planting hole. A shovel full or two of soil will help to keep the cranberry bush straight. Fill the hole with water and allow the shrub and surrounding soil to absorb.

Step5

Refill the planting hole with the remaining soil and water again thoroughly.

Step6

Spread mulch around the shrub and the entire planting area. A layer 2 to 4 inches deep is best to prevent weeds, retain moisture and keep the roots cool.

Tips & Warnings

The European cranberry bush is a deciduous broadleaf shrub hardy in zones three to eight. Check the USDA Hardiness Zone map to ensure the bush is suitable for your area.
The European cranberry bush is best planted in the spring but any time during the year that the ground is dry and workable is also acceptable. Balled-and-burlapped specimens can usually be found at most nurseries or garden centers throughout the growing season.
The most common variety of European cranberry bush is the "Compactum." While it only grows to a height of 5 or 6 feet, it maintains the hardiness and appeal of the taller varieties. Other varieties can reach up to 30 feet tall, such as the "Viburnum lantago."
The bright red berries of the European cranberry bush, that form in late summer and last all winter, are a favorite of birds. This shrub is an excellent choice for attracting wildlife to the home garden.
The European cranberry bush requires minimal maintenance. Fertilizing in early November with a good all-purpose fertilizer will encourage growth. Be sure to give the shrub a good soaking before the ground freezes.
The cranberry bush has a tendency to become "leggy" if not pruned. Large branches should be cut to the ground to allow light to reach the inside of the shrub. Pruning is best done after the shrub flowers in spring. Always remove deadwood or weak branches.