Viburnum opulus var. americanum8–12' × same. Formerly known as V. trilobum. Also known as Crampbark. Medicinal multi-stemmed native shrub.
Clusters of lovely 4" flat white flowers in May attract beneficial insects. Pendulous bunches of red berries ripen mid-October, popular with dozens of bird species. Fruit is extremely rich in antioxidants and vitamins A and C. Berries can be used for juice, jam, fruit leather and syrups—when boiling them down, don’t let the somewhat unpleasant odor deter you. Bark is one of the most effective anti-spasmodic medicinals. Good for screens and hedges. Not to be confused with low-growing bog cranberry familiar in sauces.
Native to northeast U.S. and Canada. Self-pollinating. Seed sourced from pure stands of americanum. Z2. (1-3' bare-root plants)
Items from our perennial plants warehouse ordered
on or before March 7 will ship around March 26
through late April, starting with warmer areas and finishing in
colder areas. Orders placed after March 7 will
ship around late April through early-to-mid May, in the order in
which they were received.
ships in spring
7584
Highbush Cranberry Seedling
Additional Information
Highbush Cranberries and Other Viburnums Viburnum spp.
The Viburnum genus encompasses more than 150 different
species, which can
range from dense shrubs lush with green foliage to more open
and rangy small
trees. Viburnums are prized for their multi-season interest,
with blossom,
berry and foliage varying by species. Flowers attract many
butterflies and
other early-season pollinators in spring. Ripening berries,
some edible for
humans, put on a show of color throughout the summer.
All the Viburnums we offer are important wildlife plants,
native to eastern
North America.
Growing Viburnums
Soil: Adaptable, but in moist rich
well-drained soil
they will take on a fuller shape.
Sun: Full sun to part shade.
Pollination: Plant multiples of the
same species for
best fruit set.
Pest Control: Viburnum leaf beetle
(Pyrrhalta
viburni) has become a problem in some
areas. The larvae
overwinter on twigs and can defoliate shrubs in
spring and early summer.
They seem to prefer Arrowwood, but we have seen them
do a number on Wild
Raisin and Nannyberry. Prune out and burn any
egg-infested twigs in
early spring before your shrubs are leafed out.
Spraying with
Spinosad in late April or early May when the
larvae first emerge
can also help. Timing is key—spraying eggs or
adult beetles is
less effective.
Small Trees and Shrubs
As Green’s Nursery catalog from 1904 explains, “There are many trees that by pruning can be made to resemble shrubs, and many shrubs that by different pruning may be made to produce medium-sized trees.”
