Search Fact Sheets Virginia Tech Dendrology

small cranberry Ericaceae Vaccinium oxycoccos L. Listen to the Latin Print a QR link to this factsheet symbol: VAOX
Leaf: Alternate, simple, oval, pointed tip, 1/4 to 3/8 inch long, entire margins strongly rolled under, shiny green above, paler nearly white below.
Flower: Pink to red, hanging downward, 4 petals strongly curving backwards, usually single but maybe in a small cluster, appearing in early to mid-summer.
Fruit: Round berry, 1/2 of an inch across, hang from a slender stem 1 to 1 1/2 inch long, bright red when ripe in early fall, persist through the winter.
Twig: Very slender and flexible, golden brown, nearly vine-like, densely covered with tiny leaves.
Bark: Thin, golden brown to gray-brown, may develop a few fine splits and cracks.
Form: A creeping, prostrate sprawling shrub up to 18 inches tall. They often form dense mats over swampy areas.
 Looks like: cranberry - lingonberry - kinnikinick

leaf
fruit
twig
bark
form1
map

Additional Range Information: Vaccinium oxycoccos is native to North America. Range may be expanded by planting. Download the full-size PDF map.
External Links: USDAFS FEIS Silvics - USDA Plants Database
All material 2021 Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation; Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen, Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson; Silvics reprinted from Ag Handbook 654; range map source information