Viburnum opulus 'americanum compactum''
Common Name(s):
Compact American Cranberry Bush
Dwarf American Cranberry Viburnum
Synonym:
Viburnum trilobum 'Compactum'
American cranberrybush
Flower:
White
Blooms :
May
to:
May
Flowers white, 5 petaled in 10 cm flat-topped clusters (cymes).
Botanical Description
Fragrant?
NO
Family:
Adoxaceae
Med - Lg Shrub (usually >3' and never < 1.5')
Foliage:
Green
Leaves simple, opposite, 3-lobed, 5-14 cm long, lobes acuminate, sometimes middle lobe elongated, dark green above; reddish tinge when new
Fall Color?
YES
Deep red leaves and fruits
Deciduous
Photo by:
Heading 6
Drooping clusters of persistent bright scarlet berries
Oregon Native?
NO
West State Native?
NO
Origins:
This compact form of American cranberry bush was discovered by Pat Perkins at Bailey Nurseries. Formerly called Compact American cranberry bush.
Site Selection
Minimum USDA Hardiness Zone:
2
Water Needs:
M
Sun Needs:
Partial Sun
Deer Resistant?
NO
Firewise?
NO
Height:
5-6'
Spread:
5-6'
Growth Rate:
Medium
Native Habitat:
Viburnum opulus synonymous with and formerly known as Viburnum trilobum, is native to swampy woods, bogs, lake margins, pastures, thickets, slopes and moist low places from New Brunswick to British Columbia south to New York, the Great Lakes, South Dakota
Soil:
Best in good, well-drained, moist soil. Prefers loams with consistent moisture, but tolerates a wide range of soils.
Care Recommendations
Maintenance Level:
Low
Fertilizer:
Use a balanced slow-release granular formulation like a 10-10-10 or a 15-15-15 in early spring
Mulch:
Un-dyed hardwood mulch or pine bark mulch
Regular watering during dry spells, apply fertilizer in spring, minimal pruning to maintain shape
Long Term:
Winter:
Prune just before the buds swell in late winter or early spring, or wait to prune it immediately after flowering. Do not prune more than one-third of the bush at this time. You can prune more branches the next year.
Spring:
Fertilize, monitor for pests, consistently moist soil, hold off pruning until late spring or early summer
Summer:
Consistent wwatering, mulch, post bloom shaping
Fall:
Maintain soil moisture, harvest or leave berries on plant for the birds, let foliage naturally transition to red colors
General Care Comments:
Provide full sun to partial shade, plant in well-drained soil, prune immediately after flowering, keep an eye out for pests
Common Problems
Unsightly foliage from predation by insects
Diseases:
Some susceptibility to bacterial leaf spot, stem blight and powdery mildew. https://pnwhandbooks.org/plantdisease/host-and-disease-descriptions?title=Viburnu
Insects:
Aphids, Viburnum borers, Viburnum leaf beetles
Environmental Problems:
Drought stress, waterlogged/compacted soils, defoliation from insect pests
Pests:
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