Maritime Arboretum Seed Highbush Cranberry

Viburnum Trilobum

Highbush Cranberry is a hardy native North American shrub valued for its attractive maple-like foliage, showy white spring flowers, brilliant red berries, and colourful fall foliage. The cranberry-like fruit persists into fall and winter and provides an important food source for birds and wildlife. It is an excellent choice for naturalized landscapes, wildlife gardens, hedges, and moist areas.

Approximate Maximum Height: 10 m
Zone(s): Zone 6-9
About the Seeds: Clean Seed

Lighting: Full sun to partial shade. Full sun generally produces the best flowering, fruiting, and fall colour, although the plant tolerates partial shade.

Germination: Highbush Cranberry seeds have deep, complex dormancy and can be slow and irregular to germinate. A recommended treatment is approximately 60 days of cold, moist stratification, followed by 30 days of warm stratification and another 60 days of cold stratification. After treatment, sow approximately 5-6 mm (¼") deep in a well-drained growing medium. Germination may take several months, and untreated seeds can take up to two years to germinate.

Watering: Keep the seed-starting medium consistently moist but not waterlogged throughout stratification and germination. Once seedlings emerge, maintain even moisture and do not allow young plants to dry out. Highbush Cranberry naturally prefers moist, well-drained soil and can tolerate wet conditions.

Photo Courtesy of Maritime Arboretum Ltd.