Cranberry

Plant Overview

Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) is listed in the Ericaceae family and categorized as a fruit with a perennial groundcover life cycle. This profile summarizes growing information for hardiness, light, soil, water, seed starting, maturity, and other available cultivation details. Difficulty is listed as Moderate.

Plant ID

PLT-0121

Family

Ericaceae

Plant type

Fruit

Life cycle

Perennial groundcover

Growth habit

Low-growing evergreen perennial with trailing woody runners and short upright fruiting shoots

Mature height

Usually about 4-8 inches tall above the soil surface

Mature spread

Spreads outward through trailing runners and can form broad mats over time

Difficulty

Moderate

Growing Conditions

Cranberry is listed for full sun conditions. Water needs are listed as moderate to high; maintain consistently moist acidic soil during establishment and fruit development while avoiding prolonged stagnant water around the roots. The database soil reference is Acidic, sandy or peaty soil rich in organic matter with good moisture retention and drainage. The listed soil pH range is 4.0-5.5, and the listed hardiness range is 2-7.

Hardiness zones

2-7

Sunlight

Full sun

Soil

Acidic, sandy or peaty soil rich in organic matter with good moisture retention and drainage

Soil pH

4.0-5.5

Water needs

Moderate to high; maintain consistently moist acidic soil during establishment and fruit development while avoiding prolonged stagnant water around the roots

Plant spacing

Space rooted cuttings or plugs roughly 8-12 inches apart for small plantings, allowing runners to fill the bed

Seed & Germination

For propagation, the database note is cranberry seeds have dormancy and typically require cold, moist stratification before germination; commercial and named cultivars are usually propagated vegetatively. Planting-depth guidance: For seed propagation, sow stratified cranberry seed very shallowly, about 1/8 to 1/4 inch deep, in an acidic, moist, well-drained medium. The listed time to maturity is Vegetatively established cranberry plants generally require about 2-3 years to develop meaningful fruit production, with full productivity taking longer. Use these values as general reference points and adjust for local climate, seed source, and growing conditions.

Germination

Cranberry seeds have dormancy and typically require cold, moist stratification before germination; commercial and named cultivars are usually propagated vegetatively

Germination temperature

After cold stratification, cranberry seed germination is favored by mild conditions, generally around 60-70°F, with steady moisture and an acidic growing medium

Seed depth

For seed propagation, sow stratified cranberry seed very shallowly, about 1/8 to 1/4 inch deep, in an acidic, moist, well-drained medium

Sowing method

Seed may be used for breeding or seedling production, while fruiting plantings are commonly established from cuttings, runners, rooted plugs, or nursery stock

Start indoors

Stratified cranberry seeds can be started in acidic growing media under cool to mild protected conditions, though rooted cuttings or plugs are more commonly used for establishing fruiting plants

Transplanting

Transplant rooted cranberries into prepared acidic beds at approximately their previous growing depth, keep the root zone consistently moist, and avoid allowing young plants to dry out during establishment

Harvest & Propagation

Days to maturity

Vegetatively established cranberry plants generally require about 2-3 years to develop meaningful fruit production, with full productivity taking longer

Harvest

Harvest berries after they develop full red cultivar color and firm mature fruit, typically in fall before severe freezing weather

Propagation

Cranberries are commonly propagated vegetatively from cuttings, runners, or rooted nursery stock to preserve cultivar characteristics

Seed saving

Collect seeds from fully ripe berries, remove the pulp thoroughly, rinse the seeds, and provide cold moist stratification before sowing; seedlings are genetically variable and will not reliably reproduce named cultivars

Pollination

Flowers are primarily insect-pollinated, especially by bees; good pollinator activity improves fruit set and berry development

Garden Information

Common pests

Cranberry fruitworm, cranberry weevil, spanworms, cutworms, leafhoppers, mites, and other foliage- or fruit-feeding insects

Common diseases

Fruit rots, upright dieback, leaf spots, Phytophthora root rot, and other fungal diseases favored by poor drainage or prolonged wetness

Uses

Fresh or processed fruit for sauces, juices, dried fruit, baking, preserves, relishes, and ornamental edible groundcover plantings