Vaccinium oxycoccos

The Small Cranberry is a flowering native perennial shrub belonging to the heath family. This species is an early colonizer, often one of the first shrubs to grow following fires. The Small Cranberry may also be referred to as Bog Cranberry or Swamp Cranberry. While considered a shrub, the Small Cranberry grows vine-like branches that trail and root along the ground. This species produces small, roughly one centimeter long, stalkless, simple leaves which grow alternately along the branches. Leaves are pale, shiny green with a whitish underside and rolled edges. The Small Cranberry yields showy red-pink, four petalled flowers which bloom from erect stems during late spring to early summer. These flowers transform to pale pink-red cranberries which reach maturation between August and September. The Small Cranberry may be differentiated from the Common Cranberry by the production of a smooth flower stalk consisting of a single flower. The Common Cranberry has a hairy stem and clusters of flowers.

---

Scientific Name: Vaccinium oxycoccos
Type: Shrub
Height: 20cm
Spread: 1-3m
Moisture Level: moist, wet
Light Conditions: full sun, part sun, shade
Soil Conditions: sand, clay, loam, acidic
Zone (Hardiness of Canada): 1 to 7