Virginia Tech Dendrology

cranberry Ericaceae Vaccinium macrocarpon Aiton Listen to the Latin symbol: VAMA
Leaf: Alternate, simple, oval, blunt tip, 1/4 to 1/2 inch long, entire margins maybe slightly rolled under, shiny green above, dull paler below.
Flower: Pinkish white, hanging downward, 4 petals strongly curving backwards, usually single but maybe in a small cluster, appearing in mid to late summer.
Fruit: Large, round berry, 1/2 to 3/4 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 leaves.
Bark: Thin, golden brown to gray-brown, may develop a few fine splits and cracks.
Form: A creeping, prostrate sprawling shrub up to 1 to 2 feet tall. They often form dense mats over swampy areas.
 Looks like: small cranberry - lingonberry - kinnikinick
leaf flower fruit twig bark form1 map
Additional Range Information: Vaccinium macrocarpon is native to North America. Range may be expanded by planting. See states reporting cranberry.
External Links: USDA Plants Database
All material © 2018 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