The Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) is a small, perennial, creeping fruit, known for its bright red berries with a tart flavor. Widely cultivated for processing (juice, sauces, jams), it is also decorative thanks to its evergreen foliage forming a dense carpet.
It produces small pinkish flowers in spring, followed by fruits that ripen in autumn.
The cranberry requires acidic, light, and well-drained soil, often sandy or peaty, and prefers full sun exposure for optimal production. It is ideal for specialized fruit beds or container cultivation with acidic substrate.
Its flowers are visited by pollinators, especially bees.
Botanical name: Vaccinium macrocarpon
Type: Small creeping fruit
Flowering: Late spring
Harvest: September to October
Fruit: Bright red
Flavor: Tart
Height: 10 to 20 cm
Width: 60 cm and more (groundcover)
Exposure: Full sun
Soil: Acidic, light, and well-drained
Hardiness: Zone 2–3
The Cranberry is ideal for those looking for a hardy northern small fruit, adapted to Quebec's acidic soils.