Do Cranberries Grow on a Bush or a Tree?
The North American cranberry is a low-growing, woody perennial vine, not a bush or tree. It consists of long horizontal stems, up to 6 feet in length, and short vertical branches, 2 to 8 inches high. Cranberry fruit is produced on the short vertical branches, which may contain as many as seven flowers each. A vertical branch will grow upright until the weight of the berries pushes it down. Horizontal stems grow near the soil surface, occasionally sending up new growth as needed and periodically rooting. Does this Spark an idea?
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Other Plant Chacteristics
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Cranberry plants have small oval leaves that persist on the plant for two years before falling to the ground. Flower buds form on short, upright shoots. Flowers, which resemble the head and neck of cranes, open in June or July for approximately one month. Shortly following pollination, small green berries appear on plants. Berries take about 100 days to turn dark red, indicating maturity. Mature berries are 1 inch long and 1/2 inch in diameter.
Site Requirements
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Cranberry plants require acidic soil with a pH between 4 and 5.5. Organic or sandy soils are preferred. In addition, they also need access to a reliable water source. Water is used to provide frost protection, soil evaporation replacement and flooding for harvest. Wetlands are frequently used to grow cranberries. At the same time, sites must have proper drainage to ensure good root development and prevention of root rot.
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Growing Range
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The North American cranberry is a cold-tolerant plant that is native to the swamps of northeastern North America. It grows wild as far south as the mountains of Georgia and as far west as Minnesota. Wisconsin growers currently are responsible for production of more than half of the total amount of cranberries in the United States. Commercial cranberry operations are also common in Massachusetts, New Jersey, Oregon and Washington.
Fake Cranberries
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North American cranberries are produced by either Vaccinium macrocarpon or Vaccinium oxycoccus, which are the only true species of cranberry. Lingonberries, also known as the mountain cranberry or Vaccinium vitis-idaea, are relatives of the cranberry that produce smaller and more sour cranberry-like fruit. The highbush cranberry, scientific name viburnum opulus, looks like and produces a fruit similar to the cranberry. It is not a member of the Ericaceae family like macrocarpon or oxycoccus. In fact, several species of viburnum produce a fruit that is commonly called a cranberry. While lingonberries and viburnum plants are commonly mistaken for cranberry plants, these plants do not produce real cranberries.
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References
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