Wildlife
- Feeds birds
- Pollinators
The flowers attract pollinators and the red fruit hangs on into winter as late-season food for birds.
Ships bare root
Native
Mature plant shown. Yours ships dormant and bare root.
What arrives
1 dormant bare-root plant, about 18–24 in tall
- No leaves, no pot, no soil. Roots packed moist.
- Ships in your zone's planting window.
- Leafs out about 4–8 weeks after planting.
Native shrub · edible
American Cranberry Bush
Viburnum trilobum
- Ships 18–24 in tall
- 1 plant, bare root
- Zones 2–7
- Grows 8–12 ft
$11.95Was $12.95Save 7%
5.0 out of 5 · 1 reviewsThe quick answer
American cranberry bush, also called highbush cranberry, is a native viburnum for USDA zones 2-7 that grows 8-12 ft tall and wide in full sun to part shade. It is planted for white spring flowers, red fall color, and tart red fruit that makes jelly and feeds winter birds. Plants usually fruit in 3-5 years.
When it ships to you
Zone scheduleHow many?
plants
Free shipping on orders $75+$75
Healthy deliveryOr we replace it
Shipped dormantTimed to your zone
1-year warrantyStore credit, terms
American Cranberry Bush plant profile
Mature size8–12 ft tall · 8–12 ft wide
Typical (8 ft)Up to 12 ft
Upright, rounded, multi-stemmed shrub.
USDA hardiness zones2–7
Sun & growth
SlowMediumFast
Full sun to part shade; best fruiting in full sun. Fruit in about 3–5 years.
SoilpH 5.5–7.5
4 acidic6.59 alkaline
Prefers moist, well-drained soil but tolerates a wide range of soils.
Native to the USEdible harvestOrange-red to purple fall colorWindbreakHedge & screen
Flowers & fruit
- Fruit in 3–5 yrs
- Edible
Flat white lace-cap flower clusters in spring are followed by bright red, tart, edible fruit that ripens in early fall and persists into winter.
Leaves & fall color
Orange-red to purple in fall. Three-lobed, maple-like green leaves turn orange-red to purple in fall.
Pests & disease
Viburnum leaf beetle is the main pest; stem blight and drought stress can also occur.
Pruning
Prune right after flowering or in late winter; remove a few of the oldest stems every few years.
Bare root vs potted
Skip the garden-center markup.
Garden centers buy young plants, pot them, grow them another season and mark them up. We ship yours dormant and bare root, timed to your planting window.
Bare root, from us$11.95ships dormant
Example: 3-gal potted American hazelnut$70–$140online retail prices checked Oct 2026
A year with your American Cranberry Bush
SPRINGFlat white lace-cap flower clusters
SUMMERMaple-like green leaves; green fruit
LATE SUMMERFruit colors bright red
FALLOrange-red to purple leaves; red fruit persists
Questions people ask about American Cranberry Bush
Are American cranberry bush berries edible?
Yes. The tart red berries are edible and are commonly cooked into jelly and sauce.
Is highbush cranberry the same as American cranberry bush?
Yes. Both names refer to Viburnum trilobum, which is not related to the bog cranberry sold in stores.
How big does American cranberry bush get?
It grows 8-12 ft tall with an equal spread, making a good screen or informal hedge.
Does American cranberry bush need another plant to fruit?
No, one plant will fruit, though a second plant nearby can increase berry set.
What pests bother American cranberry bush?
Viburnum leaf beetle can strip the leaves in the Great Lakes region; check twigs in winter for egg sites and prune them out.
What will arrive in the box?
A dormant bare-root shrub about 18-24 inches tall, ready to plant in spring or fall.
Plant it in 4 steps
- Soak the roots in cold water overnight before planting.
- Dig twice as wide as the roots; plant at the depth it grew.
- Water, then mulch. No fertilizer the first season.
- Water regularly until it's established.
Customer Reviews
Based on 1 review
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J
My plants arrived in great condition. Packaging was good and worth the cost. I planted them 2 days after receiving them, watered them according to the instructions and all of them are growing well in spite of the heat and dry conditions. Thank you for the beautiful plants!
Plant facts checked October 2026 against: UConn, https://www.ag.ndsu.edu/trees/treeinfo/american-cranberrybush.